Sylvie Sturm is a journalist with the San Francisco Public Press and contributor for "Civic," which airs on the Public Press radio station, KSFP-LP 102.5 FM. She reports on San Francisco’s overdose crisis and prevention efforts. She was a Center for Health Journalism 2023 California Health Equity Fellow.
The recent deployment of the National Guard and California Highway Patrol onto San Francisco’s streets to crack down on drugs comes amid intense public pressure to address open air drug use and sales.
Addiction experts say the recent increase in overdose deaths could be linked to the closure of the Tenderloin Linkage Center, a facility that helped drug users and people without housing access services.
As overdose fatalities accumulate, there is a crucial need for clarity around the perceived benefits and drawbacks of such facilities.
