She became upset after explaining that she had lost all five of her children because of her addiction in heroin and methadone. They smoked crack and shot heroin. They abandoned their children and robbed stores. They snatched purses and sold their bodies. California has embarked on an ambitious experiment to divert thousands of these nonviolent drug offenders out of the prison system and into community treatment programs like this one in the tough Mission District.
Treatment is tricky.
Addicts' treatment needs are as varied as their drugs of choice. Joshua participates in an anger managment meeting at Walden House. However, experts agree that behavior modification is a necessary part of any successful treatment program and the longer addicts stay in treatment, the better their chances of staying clean. Between 25 percent and 45 percent of Walden House clients successfully complete their treatment programs, with residential and older clients doing better than outpatient and younger ones. At 32, the petite woman has 10 children but custody of none.