Preliminary data from San Francisco shows a significant decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2024 compared to 2023.
After surging during the COVID pandemic into a crushing public health emergency, drug overdose deaths in San Francisco plummeted in 2024, according to preliminary data compiled by city health officials. The chief medical examiner's office recorded 586 fatal overdoses in San Francisco in the first 11 months of 2024. That represents a nearly 23% decrease, or 174 fewer deaths, compared with the first 11 months of 2023.
In total, 810 people died from drug overdoses in 2023, the highest number in city records. The development mirrors both national and statewide data showing overdose deaths on the decline. Provisional data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate a 14.3% decrease in fatal overdoses across California when comparing the 12 months that ended in July 2023 with the 12 months that ended in July 2024. Fatal overdoses fell 16.9% nationwide during that period, according to CDC figures. Los Angeles County health officials have not yet released fatal overdose figures for 2024. But the most recent data also showed progress: Deaths from drug overdoses and poisoning plateaued between 2022 and 2023, after years of historic increases, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health. In 2023, the county recorded 3,092 fatal overdoses, down slightly from 3,220 deaths the year before. San Francisco public health experts attributed the decline in fatal drug use in the city to the widespread availability of naloxone, a medication commonly sold under the brand name Narcan that can rapidly reverse the effects of opioid overdoses, as well as buprenorphine and methadone, prescription medications that treat opioid addiction long-term. 'We are cautiously optimistic that our public health interventions are starting to see results in terms of saving lives,' said Dr. Grant Colfax, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health
Drug Overdoses San Francisco Public Health Naloxone Addiction
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Brandon Crawford Sees Buster Posey Leading San Francisco Giants In New WayBuster Posey was always in charge when he was on the field and behind the plate with the San Francisco Giants. But, for the first time, he’ll be leading an ent
Read more »
San Francisco Sees 20% Drop in Fatal Drug Overdoses in 2024San Francisco has experienced a 20% decrease in fatal drug overdoses in 2024 compared to the same period last year. The city recorded 589 accidental overdose deaths through November 2024, down from 760 in 2023. Public health officials attribute the decline to expanded treatment options and reduced barriers to accessing medications like buprenorphine and methadone.
Read more »
San Francisco Sees 20% Drop in Fatal Overdoses in 2024Public health officials in San Francisco are cautiously optimistic about the progress made in 2024 in tackling the opioid crisis. Fatal overdoses through the first 11 months of the year were down 20% from 2023. The city attributes the decline to expanded access to treatment and medication, as well as increased awareness of available resources.
Read more »
San Francisco Sees Condo Prices Plummet, Outpacing National TrendsSan Francisco's housing market is experiencing a significant downturn, with condo prices falling 14.7% and single-family homes dropping 15.4% from their 2022 peaks. This decline surpasses national trends, with experts predicting a 2% increase in home prices nationwide in 2025.
Read more »
San Francisco Sees More Traffic Deaths Than Homicides for First TimeSan Francisco is experiencing a concerning trend with more traffic fatalities than homicides in 2024. The city recorded 41 traffic deaths, the highest number since 2007, while homicides reached a historic low of 34.
Read more »
Harvard Law Sees Sharp Decline in Black Student Enrollment After Supreme Court RulingHarvard Law School has experienced a significant drop in Black student enrollment following the Supreme Court's decision to ban race-based admissions.
Read more »