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San Francisco reports sharp drop in overdose deaths; health officials point to expanded treatment and naloxone outreach
Summary
The Department of Public Health told the Health Commission that August 2024 overdose deaths fell nearly 50% from August 2023 and that expanded access to medications and naloxone distribution likely played a role; officials said the data are preliminary and pledged further analysis tying specific interventions to outcomes.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health reported a steep month-over-month decline in overdose deaths to the Health Commission on Sept. 17, with August 2024 deaths described as "down nearly 50%" compared with August 2023 and the first eight months of 2024 down about 20% from the same period in 2023.
Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax told commissioners that the city has "redoubled our efforts" across behavioral health and street teams to expand access to life-saving medications, including methadone and buprenorphine, and that these efforts correlate with increased treatment-seeking and fewer deaths. "We continue to have…
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