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Chronic drunks' treatment costs San Francisco big bucks
SF Gate ^ | 24 Aug 09 | C. W. Nevius

Posted on 08/24/2009 12:12:48 PM PDT by Drew68

San Francisco has paid at least $150,000 for Kenny Walters in the past year. He isn't employed, has an arrest record as long as his hair, and can often be found passed out in a doorway on Haight Street.

Kenny Walters' job is to get drunk.

He's certainly not alone. "Chronic inebriants" are a grim and disturbing fact of life in San Francisco. They also cost the city millions.

The frustration is that the public service network - police, fire and medical professionals - doesn't seem to make a dent when it comes to people like Walters. There are suggestions, like a pilot program for high-impact users at the Department of Public Health, or the Community Justice Center to target frequent users, but nothing seems to get traction.

A five-year study found that 225 high ambulance users cost the city an average of $13 million annually, said Maria X. Martinez, a deputy director at the Department of Public Health.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: alcohol; alcoholism; drunk
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To: Drew68

How about we send him to Mexico?


21 posted on 08/24/2009 1:42:14 PM PDT by Oldpuppymax (AGENDA OF THE LEFT EXPOSED)
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To: Drew68
Speaking of drunks

Want to see some real interesting statistics on drunk driving?

California has nearly 13 million more people than Texas, yet there are MORE alcohol related DUI deaths in Texas than California.

http://www.alcoholalert.com/drunk-driving-statistics.html

Yeowza!

Statistics like this will surely piss people off!

lol

22 posted on 08/24/2009 1:50:27 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: Drew68

Looks like he went to one-too-many Dead concerts, and never returned.

Peace, brother.


23 posted on 08/24/2009 5:58:58 PM PDT by BobL
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To: BobL
Looks like he went to one-too-many Dead concerts, and never returned.

He's only 41 years old. Amazing. I didn't catch his age when I first posted this story. He looks like he's 60.

24 posted on 08/24/2009 8:40:50 PM PDT by Drew68
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To: Darteaus94025

MAke that Washington DC and I’ll support you.


25 posted on 08/24/2009 11:05:06 PM PDT by ASOC (Cave quid dicis, quando, et cui)
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To: Drew68

26 posted on 08/24/2009 11:12:32 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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