Measure Description
This measure reports the number of naloxone (also known as Narcan) doses distributed to San Francisco's Department of Public Health providers (DPH) and community-based partner programs during the quarterly reporting period.
The City distributes naloxone doses through the Overdose Prevention and Education (DOPE) and the DPH Behavioral Health Services Naloxone Clearinghouse. These programs then distribute naloxone to their participants.
DPH sets an achievable target each year based on annual trends and the goals laid out in the Overdose Prevention plan.
Why this Measure is Important
In October 2022, The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) and Mayor London Breed announced the start of the City’s Overdose Prevention Plan, to reduce overdose deaths and address racial disparities. One of the strategic areas laid out in the plan is to “strengthen community engagement and social support for people at high risk for overdose.”
As part of this strategy, SFDPH is expanding naloxone distribution and training. Naloxone is a lifesaving medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, including those related to fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl continues to drive overdose deaths in San Francisco and in cities across the nation.
The interactive chart below presents the quarterly count of naloxone doses distributed by DPH to providers and community partners.
The chart’s legend is below:
- Y-axis: Count of naloxone doses distributed
- X-axis: Reporting month for each quarter
Naloxone Dose Distribution
How Performance is Measured
This chart shows the number of doses distributed to programs, not their participants. Most of the naloxone distributed to program participants is done by SFDPH-authorized syringe access programs. These data do not represent all naloxone distributed in San Francisco. Other organizations distribute naloxone that comes from other sources.
The number displayed on the scorecard page represents the number of doses distributed to providers and community partners in the most recent quarter.
Data Notes and Sources
These data are reported to the Office of Overdose Prevention and are updated quarterly.
Data is available on the Open Data Portal and is maintained by DPH.
Please note that these data do not represent all naloxone distributed in San Francisco. Other organizations distribute naloxone that comes from other sources.
Additional Information
To learn more about DPH's efforts to eliminate overdose deaths visit: San Francisco Department of Public Health Overdose Prevention Plan.
City Performance Scorecards
This page is part of the City Performance Scorecards.
Return to the Public Health Scorecards Homepage.
Return to the City Performance Scorecards Home Page.