VIDEO – ADDICTS LIVES MATTER –

Aug. 2024 – The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reported a 15% overall drop in overdose deaths so far this year. The city is largely crediting the work of its night navigation team for its work taking treatment to the streets. “I want to celebrate that yes the numbers are low but at the end of the day we still have so much more to do,” said Donna Hilliard.

Aug. 2024 – The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reported a 15% overall drop in overdose deaths so far this year. The city is largely crediting the work of its night navigation team for its work taking treatment to the streets. “I want to celebrate that yes the numbers are low but at the end of the day we still have so much more to do,” said Donna Hilliard.

“Real-time real access to care means everything.”

In its first few months the team’s doled out more than 800 prescriptions for buprenorphine through telehealth and the city wants to see methadone made just as accessible.

Public health officials are getting behind AB 2115, introduced by Assembly Member Matt Haney. Would would align the state with federal guidelines — allowing methadone to be more easily prescribed.

“The stigma and over-regulation prevent people from staying in treatment…that’s what methadone patients need to do to get their daily medication,” said Dr. Hillary Kunins, with director of behavioral health, SFDPH.

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