SF public health officials issue alert on overdoses tied to fentanyl exposure
ebar.comThe San Francisco Department of Public Health has issued an alert about overdoses — both fatal and non-fatal — after people were apparently exposed to fentanyl while using cocaine.According to a March 17 news release, within the past two weeks, SFDPH has become aware of three fatal and nine non-fatal fentanyl overdoses among persons in San Francisco who reportedly intended to only use cocaine.
The three fatal overdoes occurred in the Mission district on March 5, and were previously reported in the media.Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin.
Drug overdoses began increasing precipitously in San Francisco beginning in 2015, mostly due to the presence of fentanyl in the local illicit drug supply, the release stated.
A total of 474 deaths in 2021 were attributed to fentanyl, according to preliminary city data.In San Francisco, fentanyl is typically sold as a powder (white or lavender) and may have a similar appearance to stimulants like cocaine, leading to unintentional use of fentanyl among people who are intending to use stimulants, the release stated.
