The Fentanyl Epidemic: Harsh Realities Existing in San Francisco

Learn about the ongoing battle of tents taking the streets in downtown San francisco and how we could propose possible solutions

Homelessness

What is one major cause of homelessness?

In San Francisco, most homelessness is caused by drug addiction. A deadly drug used by many homeless San Franciscans is known as fentanyl, “a synthetic opioid fifty times more potent than heroin and one-hundred times more potent than morphine”

- CBS Bay Area

Fentanyl is the most dangerous drug the world has faced yet. As little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal.

Some other drugs like heroin, morphine, and cocaine are popular amongst drug addicts.

What is another major cause of homelessness?

Housing in San Francisco has gotten too expensive. Many middle class can’t afford a decent house for their families. This may be a big reason why those living in poverty stay in poverty, sometimes even resulting in becoming homeless.

“On any given night, about 3,400 people are sleeping in San Francisco’s homeless shelters, while about 4,400 sleep on the city’s streets”

-The San Francisco Standard

Who is affected by homelessness?

Homelessness affects people and families that live or have a business downtown. Parents don’t want their children to be exposed to homeless using and dealing drugs everyday on their way to school. Also, the streets can get extremely dirty and unpleasant with homeless swamping them, which is bad for business when one owns a business downtown. Homelessness does not attract tourists either, which is crucial to small businesses in the city. Overall, no one wants to see one of San Francisco’s most beautiful parts be destroyed.

Solutions

Nearly 45% of California facilities offer treatment at no charge or accept a minimal payment for clients who don’t have enough money to afford care. An additional 58.4% offer a sliding fee scale so you can pay for your services based on what you can afford. And cash is always an option; 89.8% accept this form of payment

Additionally, various treatment centers in the San Francisco bay area also offer free drug detox centers

  • The San Francisco Police Department has had a staffing crisis for a few years now. It is mostly due to the intense “Defund the Police” movement. The SFPD has a very low number of full-duty sworn officers- 1,537 as of 2022. This causes low arrest rates, more violent crimes with no punishment, and horrible responding times to 911 calls. This staffing crisis also causes more drugs to be used without repercussion, therefore more homelessness.

  • San Francisco streets aren’t meant to have tents on them. We would like to develop a program that clears out homeless weekly, offering them rehabilitation for free. Also, SF streets downtown are always dirty, cleaning them every week would increase the pleasantness of San Francisco.

  • There are many amazing rehabilitation programs, such as Delancey Street restaurant on The Embarcadero. Substance abusers are given the option to go to jail or rehabilitation, usually choosing rehabilitation. However, the jail sentences over the years have been decreasing, causing more substance abusers to choose jail over rehabilitation. This is why the jail sentences should be increased for those who use drugs.