Drug crisis fueled by linkage center policies?

Rehabilitation

Posted by AI on 2025-08-25 09:59:05 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-26 23:51:12

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San Francisco's linkage center aims to connect homeless people with services but has seemingly done the opposite with no accountability.

For decades, San Francisco's Tenderloin District has been notorious for its drug abuse and homelessness. Yet, despite this longstanding issue, the city recently implemented a taxpayer-funded Linkage Center to provide resources to the area's vulnerable population. The center offers access to information about getting sober, food, showers, and other basic services.

However, the scene outside the center mirrors more of an open-air drug market. Multiple accounts of drug dealing, people shooting up or smoking fentanyl inside the center, and addicts passing out on the sidewalk have been observed. Now, some question whether the services provided at the center are actually fueling drug abuse.

Tom Wolf, a clean addict who was formerly homeless and addicted to heroin and fentanyl, is one of the center's biggest critics. He argues that the city's refusal to mandate drug treatment is exacerbating the problem. Wolf questions, "how is anybody ever going to get help if they're allowed to use fentanyl on the site?"

Despite the critical stance of some, San Francisco Mayor London Breed insists that the center is necessary, stating that "at least give addicts some assistance," and that there is "no judgment" there. The mayor's statements indicate a seemingly unaccountable and permissive drug usage environment.

While the Linkage Center continues to operate without accountability, the number of overdose deaths continues to rise. San Francisco logged 650 overdose deaths last year, and 700 in 2020.

Recovery advocates argue that every single one of these deaths was preventable. Now, millions of tax dollars are being spent on a center that resembles an open-air drug market, with no indication that this will change anytime soon.

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