San Francisco’s new “Cash Not Drugs” plan, announced by Supervisor Matt Dorsey and supported by city leaders.
New “Cash Not Drugs” Plan Aims to Combat SF’s Opioid Crisis by Offering Financial Incentives for Sobriety
In a new effort to fight San Francisco’s drug crisis and District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey introduced the “Cash Not Drugs” plan on Monday. The proposal promises to give up to $100 each week to people who stay clean from illegal drugs. Dorsey, along with Mayor London Breed, District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, and other supporters presented the plan at a City Hall event. This program builds on Proposition F which requires people getting certain city benefits to get drug treatment if needed.
(photo: NBC Bay Area)
San Francisco Introduces Innovative ‘Cash Not Drugs’ Program to Reward Sobriety for CAAP Recipients
The “Cash Not Drugs” plan is designed for people receiving help through the San Francisco County Adult Assistance Program (CAAP) who are diagnosed with drug addiction and are in treatment. People who stay off drugs will get extra money on top of their regular CAAP benefits. Right now, CAAP provides up to $712 per month for those with housing and $109 per month for the homeless. The new payments will come from funds created by Proposition F and possibly additional support from the state’s Medicaid program.
If the legislation passes and the Human Services Agency will have six months to create a plan for how the program will work including drug testing and setting limits on how many people can join. Mayor Breed and Supervisor Dorsey, who have both been personally affected by drug issues, said the program is a step toward finding new ways to help people overcome addiction and reduce its effects on the city. The plan will be reviewed in a September hearing marking an important move towards a more supportive approach to dealing with drug addiction, according to the report of CBS News.
