Expert Insights
You know a drug is dangerous when most addicted locals make a concerted effort to avoid it. But that hasn’t stopped a deadly new drug from making its way to the streets of San Francisco. Isotonitazene, known as ISO, is a synthetic opioid that’s over 20 times more potent than fentanyl. Drug dealers are adding ISO to other products that are sold around the city. In fact, according to the DEA, lab tests show ISO is mainly being added to heroin, fentanyl, and pressed into fake prescription pills. The Tenderloin and SoMa districts are now ground zero for a fatal overdose epidemic that shows no end in sight. This is why it’s so important that we provide narcan to all local residents, whether it’s someone who abuses opioids or knows someone who abuses opioids. Narcan is the one tool we have at our disposal that can quite literally save lives. Every resident in these districts should be carrying at least one dose of narcan, a medication known as the “anti-overdose drug.”
~ Natalie Baker
How Expensive is Drug Rehab in San Francisco?
The cost of care depends on many variables. If you prefer to live in luxury surroundings versus a modest home-style residency, you can expect to pay a higher residency fee. If you need clinical detox, you can expect to spend at least a few days to a week of additional time in a treatment center, which will increase your costs.
Whatever your financial situation, drug or alcohol rehab in San Francisco can help. According to SAMHSA, within 25 miles of the city center, there are:4
71 addiction treatment centers accept self-pay (cash)
32 facilities accept state health insurance (other than Medi-Cal)
58 programs accept Medi-Cal patients
31 programs accept Medicare patients
45 treatment centers accept private health insurance
7 rehabs are tribally-funded IHS and IHU programs
15 facilities accept military health insurance and TRICARE
6 programs, mostly religious groups, offer free treatment
Low-Cost and Free Drug Rehab Centers in San Francisco
If you’re having difficulty paying the fees for private facilities, public options may be available that offer lower rates for treatment. State-funded facilities tend to be considerably more affordable than private San Francisco drug rehabs but generally have less luxurious surroundings and amenities. State-funded options might have more flexibility in financing as well, though both types can offer scholarships and sliding scale fees.
You can also reach out to religious organizations in the area to find other resources. In addition, a wealth of harm-reduction programs in the San Francisco area cater to low-income individuals in danger of relapse or overdose.
If you need assistance in finding San Francisco alcohol rehabs, get help today at
800-681-1058
(
Who Answers?)
.
How Does San Francisco Compare in Alcohol and Drug Use?
The fentanyl and opioid epidemic has been ravaging the United States over the past several years. While drug overdose deaths are still a major concern, The Golden Gate City has ramped up its overdose prevention efforts and has now seen a decline in accidental overdose deaths for the second consecutive year despite climbing rates across the country.1 If you or someone you love is still struggling with addiction, there are more than 100 accredited alcohol and drug rehab centers in San Francisco that can help get you on the path to recovery.2
The opioid epidemic is particularly alarming in San Francisco. In 2020, fentanyl was the drug with the steepest rise in overdose deaths. According to the California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard, in 2020, San Francisco experienced:1,2
5,502 opioid-related overdose deaths
3,946 overdoses directly caused by fentanyl
16,547 emergency room visits related to opioid use
Nearly 15 million opioid prescriptions disbursed
Fentanyl isn’t the only substance posing issues for San Franciscans:3
Methamphetamines and cocaine were the highest in terms of the number of related accidental overdose deaths for the area in 2020.
The rate of emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to methamphetamine use has increased by more than 600% since 2006.
Though the rate of treatment admissions for cocaine use has dropped 75% since 2012, there have been 66% more cocaine-related emergency room department visits.
According to the National Drug Early Warning System, there’s a rising trend of meth-related arrests in the metro area.
Drug and Alcohol Laws in San Francisco
In response to the growing number of people living with substance abuse disorder, California and the city of San Francisco have enacted various policies, laws, and social programs to help.
California Good Samaritan Overdose Prevention Law: Legislation in California protects people who report an overdose and prevents them from being implicated in a drug-related crime. This law was passed in response to the increasing number of overdoses in the state; it was designed to protect those who might be involved in a drug-related crime but are trying to save a life. The Good Samaritan law protects you from prosecution if you’re found with an illegal substance, provided you aren’t found to have the intent of distributing them. The goal is to relieve the anxiety of a person who is in the presence of an overdose, giving them more incentive to call for emergency medical assistance without fear of repercussions.
The California Ethical Treatment for Persons with Substance Use Disorder Act: This act lays out program requirements to ensure the ethical and respectful handling of those dealing with addiction. It outlines needs such as individualized treatment plans (ISP), approved evidence-based therapies, dual-diagnosis treatment, and the use of credentialed healthcare workers.
Senate Bill 110: An additional bill funded by Medi-Cal, Senate Bill 110, provides incentives to participants for successfully passing a drug urinalysis.
California Family Rights Act (CFRA): Like the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), California offers employment protection to people who need time away for medical reasons under the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). Companies with 25 or more employees must provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to an employee who needs to go into a hospital for care, guaranteeing them the same or a similar position when they return.
Proposition 36: Passed in 2000, Proposition 36 gives people with a history of substance abuse a choice between jail time or going to rehab when convicted of a non-violent crime.
Should You Travel for Drug and Alcohol Rehab in San Francisco?
If you don’t live in San Francisco and you’re seeking rehab, it might be a nice idea to leave your normal surroundings and visit the city to pursue addiction treatment. There are many reasons to seek drug rehab in San Francisco, including:
- You want a breath of fresh air where you’re free to pursue your journey to recovery without being encumbered by your life at home or feeling judged.
- You’re interested in one of San Francisco’s many high-end treatment centers.
- You want to live in a more progressive area with gorgeous natural surroundings, gentle weather, and easy access to public transportation.
- You have supportive friends or family in the city.
- Your health insurance covers care in the area.
San Francisco is beloved for its culture, cuisine, and beautiful scenery. The Mediterranean-like climate provides wet winters and dry summers with little change in temperature between the seasons. You can expect an average year-round temperature of 50-60 degrees, thanks to the area’s unique geography, which brings in cold currents of air and occasional blankets of fog.
Resources
- ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE DEATHS DECLINE IN SAN FRANCISCO | San Francisco. (n.d.). Sf.gov.
- FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov.
- California Department of Public Health. (2022). CA Overdose Dashboard.
- City and County of San Francisco, Office of the Chief Medical Officer. (2020). Preliminary Accidental Drug Overdose Data Report.
- Center for Substance Abuse Research. (2020). National Early Drug Warning System. San Francisco Sentinel Community Site (SCS) Drug Use Patterns and Trends, 2020.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Facility locator.
- Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). National Survey Trends in Telehealth Use in 2021: Disparities in Utilization and Audio vs. Video Services.
- Winslow, B.T. and Hebert, M. (2016). Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder. American Family Physician 93(6): 457-465.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). MAT Medications, Counseling, and Related Conditions.
