Officials: Overdose deaths in SF decreased significantly from last year

SAN FRANCISCO ( KRON ) — The San Francisco Department of Public Health says overdose deaths in the city have decreased significantly. Overdose deaths were down 50 percent last month, compared to the same time last year.

In August, 45 people died of an accidental overdose in San Francisco, down from the 88 deaths in August of last year. On Monday, we heard from a woman who survived her addiction to opioids.

In the first eight months of 2024, the San Francisco Department of Public Health introduced a number of new programs to fight the opioid crisis.

Dr. Grant Colfax explained how pilot programs, like the Tenderloin night street teams, have helped save lives.

“We have life-saving medications available,” Colfax said. “People are able to access them more easily than ever, and we’re seeing a correlation in decrease in deaths and saving people’s lives.”

September is National Recovery Month, a time to promote and support new treatment and recovery practices.

Jean Bruno has been in a recovery program for opioid addiction for two years and explained Monday how grateful she is.

“You are given your life back and that’s an incredible sensation and feeling,” Bruno said. “The freedom that you have that you lost and getting back is an incredible feeling.”

The San Francisco Department of Public Health says residential treatment has also made a difference in the city with 400 new beds available since 2020.

Looking forward, Director of Behavioral Health Dr. Hillary Kunins says increasing access to the treatment drug Methadone is key — urging Gov. Newsom to sign a bill put forward by Assemblymember Matt Haney and approved by the legislature.

“It’s about bringing local and California-wide methadone regulation into line with what is already in place federally but requires extra steps locally and statewide,” Kunins said.

According to Dr. Colfax, someone dies of an overdose death in the U.S. every three minutes.

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