Overview

• The program offers free alcohol to homeless individuals with severe addiction, aiming to minimize harm and stabilize consumption.
• Critics, including tech CEO Adam Nathan, argue the program merely prolongs addiction without offering paths to recovery.
• San Francisco spends $5 million annually on the initiative, which has grown from 10 to 20 beds since its inception.
• Health officials claim the program has cut emergency room visits and police calls, but public perception remains largely negative.
• Debate intensifies as some call for funds to be redirected towards more traditional recovery and detox programs.