New data shows that 621 people died from overdoses in 2025, a similar level as 2024. The Mayor’s strategy of ramped up criminal enforcement does not appear to be working to significantly lower fatal overdoses in San Francisco.
Mayor Lurie announced a “Fentanyl State of Emergency” upon taking office, conducted mass arrests of drug users in public places, and identified drugs as a top priority for his administration. At the same time, he has refused to implement the evidence-based Four Pillars approach pushed by health care advocates, drug policy experts, and socialist elected officials. A detailed report by the Budget and Legislative Analyst in 2024 mapped out how the City could implement such a plan here. Lurie has also defunded key harm reduction programs.
Punishing drug use hits the most vulnerable hardest, trapping people in a cycle of addiction. Punishment doesn't treat addiction, treatment does, and until people are ready for treatment, harm reduction strategies can keep them alive. Health advocates have long warned that punitive strategies do little, if anything, to reduce addiction or overdoses.
Just the facts:
- The number of overdose fatalities did not fall dramatically in 2025 despite massive government criminal enforcement and expenditures. There were 621 unintentional overdose fatalities in 2025.
- Lurie has ramped up drug enforcement sweeps and ordered the Department of Public Health to scale back harm reduction programs https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/06/drug-dealing-arrests-police-park-raid/
- Studies have shown that incarceration can significantly increase an addict's chance of relapse, with some research indicating an increase of 50% or more in relapse risk compared to those who receive treatment in community based centers.
