DPH director reports modest decline in overdose deaths, opens Maria X Martinez clinic and outlines Baker Place transition

Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s Director of Public Health, briefed the Health Commission on Oct. 18 with a multi‑topic report that highlighted substance‑use trends, new clinic capacity, behavioral‑health provider transitions, and routine COVID and MPox data.

Colfax said the DPH substance‑use trends report shows the city recorded 625 overdose deaths in 2021, an 11% decline from 2020 but still 41% higher than 2019 levels. Fentanyl remained the primary driver, involved in roughly 75% of overdose cases. The department also released an "Overdose Prevention Plan," a four‑point strategy that sets measurable goals to reduce deaths and address racial disparities; Colfax said Black residents continue to experience markedly higher overdose mortality.

Colfax announced the opening of the Maria X Martinez Health Resource Center (Mission and Stevenson in SoMa), which he said consolidates urgent care, low‑barrier medication‑assisted treatment, street medicine administration, and homeless outreach teams to serve people experiencing homelessness and those disconnected from care. Colfax encouraged commissioners to visit the new center and said it is intended to integrate primary and urgent services with outreach.

On behavioral health services, Colfax said Baker Place notified DPH in late September that financial pressures were forcing program changes; DPH is working with Baker Place, the Board of Supervisors, and other providers to develop a six‑month transition plan intended to preserve treatment beds and workforce continuity. He said DPH is pursuing short‑term solutions and partner transfers to avoid gaps in care.

Colfax also provided COVID and MPox updates: case rates were low relative to summer peaks, hospitalizations were modest (46 people hospitalized with COVID as of Oct. 13; nine in ICU), bivalent booster administration was progressing (Colfax cited 116,000 bivalent boosters administered in the city), and MPox cases and vaccine demand had declined with a focus on second‑dose completion for at‑risk groups.

Commissioners asked where the Maria X Martinez center is located and about vaccine interval guidance; Colfax said the center is at Mission and Stevenson and directed the public to DPH’s website for the latest vaccine timing recommendations. Public commenters also asked the commission what actions it has taken to fund or open additional skilled‑nursing beds and to track out‑of‑county discharges; DPH acknowledged the reporting requirement and said it would continue to coordinate responses and keep commissioners updated.

Colfax closed by expressing concern over behavioral‑health and bed‑capacity pressures and emphasizing DPH efforts to stabilize services and expand harm‑reduction efforts across the system.