Many recent news articles have used San Francisco substance abuse statistics to highlight how the Bay Area has been affected by the nation’s ongoing drug crisis. Although several other large metropolitan areas have higher rates of substance abuse, addiction, and overdose, San Franciso continues to receive national attention for its struggles to effectively address these problems.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse, don’t hesitate to reach out to Live Oak Wellness today.
Call us now or verify your insurance to start your journey to recovery.
San Francisco Substance Abuse Statistics
It can be extremely difficult to determine exactly how many people have been abusing, or have become addicted to, alcohol or other drugs in San Francisco (or in any other specific geographic region, for that matter).
However, there are two types of San Francisco substance abuse statistics that can shed light on drug use and addiction in the area: annual overdose deaths and the number of people who have received professional care for addictions.
Therefore as the stats below indicate, overdose deaths in San Francisco have been on the rise. While admissions to publicly funded addiction treatment centers have been trending in the opposite direction. The news about treatment may not be as bad as it first appears. Although, as experts believe more people may be seeking care from private or non-specialized programs.
Overdose Deaths
According to a Jan. 17, 2024, report from the chief medical examiner’s office. The City and County of San Francisco recorded 806 accidental drug overdose deaths in 2023. This was a record for the region, surpassing the previous high of 726 overdose deaths in 2020.
Additional information from this report:
- The 806 overdose deaths in 2023 represented a 24% increase from the previous year’s total of 649.
- Men accounted for 667 (or 82.8%) of the 806 overdose deaths.
- Among age groups, those ages 55-64 had the greatest number of deaths, with 239 (or 29.6% of the year’s total).
- 653 overdose deaths (81% of the total) involved fentanyl, 407 (50.5%) involved methamphetamine, and 370 (45.9%) involved cocaine. These numbers add up to more than 100% due to people having multiple drugs in their system when they died.
- The two months with the highest number of overdose deaths were August (88) and January (84).
Preliminary data from 2024 offers a glimmer of good news. As the number of overdose deaths through the first seven months of the year is about 15% lower than the first seven months of 2023.
From January through July 2024, the medical examiner’s office recorded 412 overdose deaths. During the same period in 2023, overdoses had already claimed 484 lives.
Also, records indicate that there were 49 overdose deaths in June 2024 and 39 in July 2024. These are the first months with fewer than 50 overdose deaths in San Francisco since July 2022. When 43 deaths were attributed to drug overdoses.
Addiction Treatment
The San Francisco substance abuse statistics listed below are from a report by the Center on Substance Use and Health. Which is part of San Francisco’s Department of Public Health.
- The annual number of admissions to publicly funded specialized addiction treatment centers in San Francisco declined every year. From 2015-2022. There were 10,273 admissions in 2015 and 6,071 admissions in 2022. This represents a decline of about 41%.
- Annual admissions to specialty programs for opioid use disorder (which is the clinical term for addictions to heroin, fentanyl, prescription painkillers, and similar substances) fell by 26% between 2015-2022.
- From 2015-2022, the annual number of people who received buprenorphine for opioid use disorder from non-specialty treatment centers rose from 1,378 to 2,538, an 84% increase.
- Over the same period, the annual number of methadone patients declined from about 3,700 to about 2,300, a decrease of about 38%.
- In 2015, 590 people received treatment in San Francisco for addictions to cocaine or crack. By 2022, that number was 203, which represents a 65% decline.
- From 2017-2022, the annual number of people who received care for methamphetamine fell from 1,146 to 645, a decrease of about 44%.
- From 2015-2022, the number of people who received treatment for alcohol addiction each year declined from1,452 to 61, a decrease of about 58%.
Please note that, as we mentioned earlier, these statistics primarily represent admissions to publicly funded specialized addiction treatment centers in San Francisco. This data does not include those who sought professional care from private addiction treatment centers like ours at Live Oaks Wellness or who attempted to end their drug use by participating in community-based support groups.
Find Substance Abuse Treatment in San Francisco
No statistic can fully capture the devastation that compulsive substance abuse can inflict on individuals, families, and neighborhoods throughout San Fransisco. At Life Oaks Wellness, we understand the pain of addiction and the challenges of recovery, and we are here to help you find your path toward a healthier, drug-free future.
Treatment options at our addiction rehab near San Francisco include detoxification, residential programming, and outpatient care. In each of these programs, you will follow a customized treatment plan and work in close collaboration with a team of highly skilled professionals.
In addition to offering quality clinical services, we also work diligently to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all patients, staff, and visitors. When you choose Live Oaks Wellness, you join a vibrant healing community where you will always be treated with the dignity and respect that you deserve.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
