Visitors to the San Francisco County Jail can now avail themselves of free Narcan nasal spray, an antidote to opioid overdoses, according to a tweet from the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH).
Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, is a commonly used treatment for accidental fentanyl overdoses. The SFDPH is making the drug available to “people at risk of overdose and/or people who want to be prepared to save a life.”
Additionally, the SFDPH is providing free fentanyl test strips at the main jail located on Seventh Street in SoMa, as part of a broader effort to address the surge in fentanyl-related overdoses in the city.
San Francisco has seen a notable increase in deaths from fentanyl overdoses this year. The city has already confiscated more of the drug from street dealers than it did in the entirety of 2022. This initiative underscores the vital role of public health interventions in tackling the ongoing opioid crisis.