Health
Consequences of Illicit Drugs
Mortality
Mortality from "poisonings," which are primarily the result
of illicit drugs (often in combination with alcohol) are the sixth
leading cause of premature
mortality in San Francisco. In some neighborhoods, such as the
Tenderloin
and South of Market,
poisonings are the third leading cause of years of life lost. In other
neighborhoods, causes of death that are closely related to substance
abuse are the leading causes of years of life lost: In the Bayview,
violence is the leading cause of premature mortality. In the Castro,
in the Tenderloin,
and in the Haight,
it's HIV/AIDS.
The drug-related death rate in San Francisco is double that of California
(see SF-CA comparisons
page).
Medical
Care Burden
Soft Tissue Infections from Injection Drug Use. Soft tissue
infections are the third leading cause of hospitalizations in San
Francisco, and many of them are the result of injection drug use.
The burden of this problem at San Francisco General Hospital has been
characterized as an epidemic [PubMed
Abstract], and protocols for outpatient care have been developed
by the Department of Public Health.
HIV/AIDS. Illicit drug use (primarily methamphetamine, cocaine,
and heroin) is a significant contributor to San Francisco's high HIV
infection rate, which is nearly five times that of California's (see
SF-CA comparisons
page). According to the California Department of Alcohol and Drug
Programs' Community
Indicators of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Risk, 2004, San Francisco
ranks highest among the counties in the state for AIDS incidence.
A PubMed search for "Substance-Related
Disorders"[MeSH] AND "San Francisco"[MeSH] fiinds
many articles about HIV infection.
Syphilis. San Francisco's syphilis rates have been increasing,
and we have the highest syphilis rate in the nation. Methamphetamine
use is an important determinant of this problem [PubMed
Abstract].
Violent Injuries. Based on homicide data, it can be assumed
that a substantial portion of intentional violent injuries involve
illicit drugs. (See SF Firearm Injury Reporting System 2002 Annual
Report [PDF
for alcohol and drugs chapter] for homicide data.)
Overtaxed
Treatment System
The Department is in the process of implementing its treatment
on demand plan within a severely overtaxed treatment system.
