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DPH reports drop in overdose deaths and celebrates AB 2115 passage to expand methadone access
Summary
Director Colfax reported preliminary data showing 15% fewer overdose deaths year-to-date and a July count of 39 deaths; she highlighted AB 2115—s passage in the Assembly to increase methadone access and said the measure has gone to the governor—s desk.
Director Colfax opened the commission meeting with a broad director—s report that combined epidemiologic updates, program highlights and personnel changes.
On overdose, Colfax said a mid-August Office of the Chief Medical Examiner report showed 39 accidental drug overdose deaths in July and that the department is tracking a 15% year-to-date reduction in overdose deaths compared with 2023. "This number 39 is 51 percent fewer overdose deaths than we're seeing in San Francisco in July of last year, when there were unfortunately 79," she said. Colfax added that the department would "continue to double down on our efforts to expand substance use treatment and to get more people into treatment and save more lives."
Colfax also highlighted policy progress: she said DPH co-sponsored Assembly Bill 2115 with Assemblymember Matt Haney, a bill intended to expand access to methadone by aligning state law with recent federal rules. "As of Saturday... the bill did pass and the bill will go to the governor's desk for his potential signature," she said, calling expanded methadone access essential for preventing overdose deaths.
The director reviewed other items in the report: the Health Network centralized call center (about 1,100 calls per day, with >60% bilingual staff), a new community-of-practice and Spanish-language leadership training for promotores, staff awards and leadership changes at Zuckerberg San Francisco Hospital, and reminders about flu and COVID vaccination timing.
Colfax concluded by inviting commissioner questions and said the department would keep the commission informed on AB 2115 and overdose-response progress.
