San Francisco reached all-time high in overdose deaths last year
(KRON) — For months, San Francisco health officials have been talking about how bad the fentanyl crisis is in the city. Now year-end numbers prove that to be true as San Francisco reaches an all-time high in overdose deaths.
More than 800 overdose deaths were recorded in San Francisco last year — more than 80% of those involving fentanyl.
City officials are also calling state and federal lawmakers to remove barriers to allow for supervised consumption sites which they believe will have an impact on overdose deaths.
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San Francisco Public Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax shares the grim numbers Wednesday about what’s happening on San Francisco streets. Eight-hundred-six people died of drug overdoses in 2023, compared to 649 in 2022, 642 in 2021 and 726 in 2020.
“It’s been a tragic year for overdose doses because more people have died this year than ever before,” Colfax said.
Health officials say fewer people died of an overdose in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the previous three quarters, which gives them some hope and greater determination to reach more people this year.
“In 2024, DPH will continue to expand treatment access and implement programs to help people get into care and to help us understand and respond more effectively and more timely,” said San Francisco Behavioral Health Services Director Dr. Hillary Kunin.
That includes expanding access to medications used to reduce a person’s risk of dying of an overdose and expanding access to naloxone which was distributed almost 125,000 times last year to reverse an opioid overdose. Despite the city’s multifaceted approach, the street teams that work one-on-one with substance abusers admit getting someone to commit to changing their lives is difficult.
“Unfortunately, the reality is most people will decline treatment on their first second, third, even 20th attempt, but we don’t give up,” said Britt Rubin who is a care specialist for SF’s Street Overdose Response Team.
But there are many success stories as evidenced by former users who are now members of the overdose response team.
“Many years ago as a young youth, I was addicted to PCP. So now I’m in full recovery over 27 years,” said street care team peer supervisor Tyrone Martin. “I account that for encountering outreach teams, family and friends outreaching me, that’s why I chose this field. I experienced compassion I want to give that back.”
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City officials are also calling state and federal lawmakers to remove barriers to allow for supervised consumption sites, which they believe will have an impact on overdose deaths.
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