DPH reports early success at Tenderloin Linkage Center and preliminary decline in accidental overdose deaths
February 01, 2022 | San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California
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Director Grant Colfax told the Health Commission the Tenderloin Linkage Center, a multiagency site modeled in part on the city's COVID response, is serving hundreds of residents daily and providing referrals to housing, behavioral health treatment and other services.
Colfax reported the linkage center welcomed more than 200 guests on the day of his report, hosted over 1,100 visits in its first week and logged nearly 200 referrals. He said naloxone had been administered three times at the center and that the site is intended to be a one-stop access point for needs including housing, shelter, food and medical care.
On overdose trends, Colfax cited preliminary findings from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner showing accidental overdose deaths in 2021 were about 7% lower than in 2020, which the department characterized as the first decline since 2018. Colfax emphasized these are preliminary numbers and said the department will continue to expand prevention and treatment options across multiple initiatives in 2022.
During public comment, Michael Petrellis urged the department to consider mailing N95 masks and COVID test kits to residents to complement federal distribution; Petrellis said he had not received a promised set of federal home tests. Colfax and Dr. Baba responded to commissioner questions about booster guidance, testing supplies and supports for single-room-occupancy residents, noting hotel isolation rooms and community partner outreach are available where clinically needed.
Colfax framed the city's approach as focusing on preventing the worst outcomes through vaccination, testing, treatment access and targeted prevention programs, and he said the Omicron surge has peaked locally with hospitalizations beginning to fall.
Commissioners requested more organized, periodic updates that aggregate overdose and treatment initiatives so the commission can track progress across the many concurrent programs.
Colfax reported the linkage center welcomed more than 200 guests on the day of his report, hosted over 1,100 visits in its first week and logged nearly 200 referrals. He said naloxone had been administered three times at the center and that the site is intended to be a one-stop access point for needs including housing, shelter, food and medical care.
On overdose trends, Colfax cited preliminary findings from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner showing accidental overdose deaths in 2021 were about 7% lower than in 2020, which the department characterized as the first decline since 2018. Colfax emphasized these are preliminary numbers and said the department will continue to expand prevention and treatment options across multiple initiatives in 2022.
During public comment, Michael Petrellis urged the department to consider mailing N95 masks and COVID test kits to residents to complement federal distribution; Petrellis said he had not received a promised set of federal home tests. Colfax and Dr. Baba responded to commissioner questions about booster guidance, testing supplies and supports for single-room-occupancy residents, noting hotel isolation rooms and community partner outreach are available where clinically needed.
Colfax framed the city's approach as focusing on preventing the worst outcomes through vaccination, testing, treatment access and targeted prevention programs, and he said the Omicron surge has peaked locally with hospitalizations beginning to fall.
Commissioners requested more organized, periodic updates that aggregate overdose and treatment initiatives so the commission can track progress across the many concurrent programs.
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