Shameless in Seattle

A sociological experiment in Seattle is providing room and board to 75 chronic inebriants in an $11 million facility with 19 full-time paid staff workers. Residents face no requirements to deal with their alcoholism and are allowed to drink as much as they like on site. Supporters believe the project will save taxpayer dollars by reducing emergency room costs. But the latest WORLD reports that seven residents have died and emergency workers have frequented the wet house four to five times per week since it opened in December. The idea flows from a trendy new philosophy in social work called harm reduction, where government works to reduce the consequences of bad behavior instead of addressing the behavior itself. “It’s controversial, yes, but it keeps people alive,” said Alan Marlatt, author of the book Harm Reduction. “At least we’re doing something.”

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