Deaths from accidental drug overdoses in San Francisco hit its own highest record again in August, according to the latest monthly report by the county’s chief medical examiner Sept. 18.
The medical examiner recorded 84 unintentional drug overdose deaths last month—an average of five deaths every two days. Two deaths are still under investigation.
The city reported the same number of such deaths in January, followed by 52 in February. But the numbers have steadily increased until August, with June as the only exception, according to the medical examiner’s latest report.
In total, 563 people have died this year in the county, thus far, due to accidental overdoses.
Regarding the deaths from overdosing in August, 79 percent tested positive for fentanyl and approximately 50 percent from methamphetamines or cocaine, the medical examiner reported.
The majority of those who died were white, black, or Latino males between the ages of 25 and 64.
According to the medical examiner, who released the updated information in the agency’s Accidental Drug Overdose Report, 25 percent of the deaths last month occurred in the Polk and Russian Hill neighborhoods located south of Chinatown, 23 percent in the South of Market neighborhood, and 18 percent in the Tenderloin—both just east of Chinatown.
According to the San Francisco Standard—a local news publication—the county received 13 bodies to investigate in the 24 hours prior to International Overdose Awareness Day, which was Aug. 31, and recognized in the city.
Meanwhile, London Breed, mayor of San Francisco, on Sept. 18 posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, celebrating the California Legislature’s passage of SB 43—a bill which expands standards for the detention, treatment, and overseeing those with severe mental illnesses, including those with addictions.
“Addiction is so powerful and it has gotten even more devastating with the rise of fentanyl,” Ms. Breed said. “We need more tools to get people into treatment, housing and care, especially those who are unable to care for themselves, or are repeatedly harming themselves.”
The bill now awaits a signature from Gov. Gavin Newsom.
On the same day the latest overdose report was released, San Francisco Police released statistics, saying they had made 1,106 arrests for drug use and sales and seized over 158 pounds of drugs, including 93 pounds of fentanyl between May 29 and Sept. 17.
