San Francisco pursues plan to give drug-free welfare participants $100 per week

In San Francisco, a city grappling with a severe fentanyl crisis, Mayor London Breed has predominantly used law enforcement to address drug use. Now, city leaders, including Supervisor Matt Dorsey, are shifting to the "Cash Not Drugs" initiative, offering up to $100 weekly to welfare recipients who test negative for illicit drugs.

The program aims to support recovery and encourage a drug-free lifestyle by offering financial incentives instead of punitive measures. It targets members of the San Francisco County Adult Assistance Program , about a third of whom struggle with substance use disorders.

Dorsey, a recovering addict, advocated for the program. He said it encourages sobriety through financial incentives rather than punitive measures.

"The humane and effective approach to San Francisco’s drug crisis should also include rewarding good behavior and not just punishing bad behavior," Dorsey said.

Pending full approval from the Board of Supervisors, this initiative would start as a three-year pilot program managed by San Francisco's Human Services Agency in collaboration with the Department of Public Health. The plan includes regular assessments by an independent organization to gauge the program’s effectiveness and report findings annually.

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