Ep. 358: California Homelessness: Lost Cause? [REMASTERED]

How does a suburban dad end up addicted & sleeping in a Tenderloin doorway? Tom Wolf was a suburban Dad & city employee when he became addicted to drugs. He soon found himself sleeping in a doorway in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco getting high every 90 minutes.   Now six years sober, he serves on the leadership council of Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions & is a bridge between the reality of the streets & the meeting room of policy makers.  In this episode, you’ll hear his story, the down and dirty about “live & let die,” Chinese fentanyl and Mexican cartel, if housing plus services is really the answer & should we follow the Portugal model? This episode originally aired on September 9, 2024. If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 317: LIFE IN THE VEGAS TUNNELS: CLOWNS, CRICKETS & CRANK [REMASTERED] Guest:https://x.com/gooddrugpolicyhttps://x.com/Twolfrecoveryhttps://gooddrugpolicy.org/papr/https://www.facebook.com/gooddrugpolicyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/foundation-for-drug-policy-solutions/ Sponsors: https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/  1:07 The Foot Surgery That Started It2:23 Buying Pills On The Street4:21 Switching To Heroin5:02 The OxyContin Crisis Origins6:32 Should Purdue Pay?7:38 Fentanyl's Chinese Precursors9:09 Working For The Cartel10:38 Arrested And Released15:09 Why Not Get Shelter?16:40 Using Every 90 Minutes19:43 Housing Isn't Enough22:20 Six Strikes And Jail24:37 Sober vs. In Recovery28:57 Portugal's Decriminalization Model33:24 Decriminalization vs. Legalization35:33 Could Plant Medicine Help?39:25 Pivoting San Francisco's Approach42:31 A Hostage Takeover Of The Brain43:12 Alberta And Houston's Success45:42 Closing Thoughts And HopeRequest to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/Follow me in all the places:https://www.meredithforreal.com/  https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousintrovert/ [email protected]://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal https://www.facebook.com/curiousintrovert