San Francisco, CA
2023 is SF's deadliest year ever for drug overdoses; solution to crisis may be in wastewater
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — ABC7 News learned Thursday that a record number of people have died from drug overdoses in San Francisco this year.
The previous record was 726 deaths in 2020, but the city just surpassed that.
Going forward, San Francisco public health officials announced a plan with the federal government to track wastewater, similar to what was done in some areas during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
So far this year, 752 people have died from drug overdoses in San Francisco; more than 80% of those cases are believed to have involved fentanyl, according to officials.
“We have seen record number of deaths due to overdose in San Francisco in 2023, or are likely to,” said Dr. Hillary Kunins of the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
MORE: Fentanyl seized by CHP in SF’s Tenderloin enough to potentially kill 2.1M people, ABC7 News learns
If you live in San Francisco, your wastewater is now being tested for illicit drugs including fentanyl and tranq. But don’t worry, no individual tracking is being done.
“San Francisco is specifically testing for fentanyl, methamphetamine, amphetamine, cocaine, and xylazine,” said Dr. Jeffrey Hom of the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
“We expect the data to help us access trends, increase or decreases to help us predict what we might see in terms of non-fatal overdoses and fatal overdoses,” said Dr. Kunins.
The wastewater surveillance program here in San Francisco just started this month and is part of a federal study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. San Francisco is one of 70 cities involved.
Thursday night, a vigil was held in San Francisco for the unhoused individuals who lost their lives on the streets in 2023. While not all died of drug overdoses, new statistics show that nearly one-third of all drug overdose deaths in San Francisco this year involve those living on the streets with no home address.
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“Drugs in general are an escape for people, so anything we can do to minimize what’s happening here will make the number of people we’re remembering tonight shorter,” said Michael Pappas of the San Francisco Interfaith Council.
While wastewater will be tested in these different cities, the tests are limited as they won’t go so far as to tell you where in the city we’re seeing the illicit drugs. Some argue that we already know these drugs are a problem in the city and continue to get worse.
But, San Francisco’s Department of Health says recognizing trends can help with better drug prevention and that is something that can save lives.
“Allowing us to act faster when emerging substances like xylazine are increasing in the local drug supply, higher risk periods and more strategy during those periods,” says Dr. Hom.
The wastewater testing program is scheduled to end in late August of 2024.
MORE: What is the current and future outlook on tackling SF’s drug crisis?
If preliminary numbers hold, 2023 will set the record for drug overdose deaths in a year in San Francisco. Here are the stats:
2023: 752 (so far)
2022: 649
2021: 642
2020: 726 (prior record)
2019: 441
2018: 259
2017: 222
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San Francisco, CA
BART reports major delay between Daly City and San Francisco Airport, Millbrae stations
There is a major delay between the Daly City and Millbrae/San Francisco International Airport stations that started early Thursday morning, according to BART.
Around 5:20 a.m., BART said the major delay was due to an equipment problem on the track. SamTrans was providing bus service between Millbrae and Daly City on buses ECR and ECT, and bus 292 between SFO and Millbrae, BART said.
As of 7:18 a.m., BART reported normal service had resumed between Daly City and Millbrae/SFO stations with delays of 20 minutes.
On Wednesday night at Union Square in San Francisco, many from the Jewish community gathered to celebrate the final night of Hanukkah.
As the last candle was lit, the message of this holiday to overcome darkness with light had a special significance.
The Aisenberg family is not at the grand menorah lighting to just celebrate Hanukkah.
“This little boy and his baby brother were taken on October 7th 2023,” said Jackie Aisenberg.
The events of October 7th have left Jackie Aisenberg with a heavy heart. A pediatrician and a mother, she has fought to keep these children’s names in the spotlight, praying for their safe return.
“This is part of our luggage, everyday luggage,” said Jackie Aisenberg. “We need to be strong, we need to be proud and we need to speak out for them.”
Children have a special place in Jackie’s heart but she has also been impacted by the deadly New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans. The hope for 2025 is for peace and safety for everyone.
“As part of humanity, I don’t think this is pertaining in particular to necessarily to any ethnicity, or to any religion or to any people,” she said. “This is a matter of human values.”
“We never lose the hope, lost the hope or will lose the hope for a better world,” her husband Sergio Aisenberg added.
So as Hanukkah comes to an end, the Aisenberg family wants the message of standing strong and of light to resonate with people of all religions and beliefs.
“We need to stand together,” she said. “We’re Jewish people but it’s not just the Jewish people. It’s everybody who believes in humanity in open societies where we are free to stand for our values.”
The stars were out – literally – in practice reports for both the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers today.
In the final week of regular season football for both sides, here’s what Wednesday looks like:
DNP – Hjalte Froholdt (personal)
Limited – Kelvin Beachum (knee), Sean Murphy-Bunting (toe), Matt Prater (knee), Darius Robinson (calf), Mack Wilson Sr. (ankle/quad)
The Cardinals had a walk-through today and their report is merely an estimation.
Arizona today also announced running back James Conner would go on injured reserve.
DNP – Robert Beal Jr. (ankle), Nick Bosa (knee), Spencer Buford (calf), Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf), Leonard Floyd (shoulder), George Kittle (ankle), Deommodore Lenoir (shoulder) Colton McKivitz (knee), Brock Purdy (elbow), Deebo Samuel (ribs/wrist), Isaac Yiadom (pelvis)
Limited – Ji’Aiyir Brown (ankle), Ricky Pearsall (illness/chest)
Full – Isaac Guerendo (foot/hamstring), Talanoa Hufanga (wrist)
Even with both teams eliminated from postseason contention, Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has his sights set on finishing the year strong.
“That’s going to be your greatest confidence builder is winning games, but yeah, there’s no doubt you want to end the year playing good football. I know whether you’re in it or not, everybody’s trying to do that,” said Gannon.
“Then it just gives you another opportunity on Sunday to see what’s good, what’s not and how we can execute better. It’s a learning experience, but there’s no doubt we want to play well for our fans, play well for us, and win a game”
With Purdy already having been ruled out by 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, the Cardinals are set to see former quarterback Joshua Dobbs on Sunday.
Gannon when asked if he preps for the 49ers’ system rather than Dobbs himself:
“Yeah, but the great coaches out there fit their people into that system. I know (49ers Head Coach) Kyle (Shanahan) will do that, so we have to be on it defensively because they’re going to give us some different things that they can do with ‘Dobbsy’ that if we’re not ready for will win the game for them,” said Gannon.
“We have to have a good week of prep and a good week of execution, understanding the opponent and executing at a high level.”
Both teams will practice on Thursday and Friday before being required to label game designations such as questionable, out or doubtful on players.
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