Overdose Deaths In The City Are Down, But New Counterfeit Pills Are Of Concern

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Two months after a novel synthetic opioid killed a San Francisco youth, the San Francisco Department of Public Health is warning the public of counterfeit pills sweeping the nation.

At a Tuesday press conference, Daniel Tsai, director of the city's Department of Public Health, was joined by Dr. Christy Soran, San Francisco's deputy medical director for substance use treatment, to highlight recent drug overdose statistics.

In May, 35 overdose deaths were recorded. This is a 40% decrease from the same month last year.

These 35 deaths are the second-lowest for a single month on record since the San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office started tracking these deaths in 2020, with the lowest month on record being this past April.

"I'm pleased by the trajectory of these numbers. And five months into the year we still have 219 overdose deaths, that is 219 too many," said Tsai.

While these numbers point to signs of hope or mark a potential trend of drug overdose deaths decreasing, counterfeit pills are a growing concern.

In April, an overdose death occurred in San Franisco involving two novel synthetic opioids: N-Propionitrile Chlorphine (cychlorphine) and N-Desethyl Isotonitazene. These synthetic opioids have been found in overdose deaths across the U.S. However, this was the first time a death involving these synthetic opioids occurred in San Francisco.

N-Propionitrile Chlorphine is estimated to be 10 times more potent than fentanyl.

Counterfeit pills are pressed to look like other popular drugs like Xanax or oxycodone. These counterfeit pills are also advertised on social media sites as sellers target adolescence and young adults.

"We also know from national data that young people are more likely to use pills or counterfeit pills and are more likely to experience overdose related to counterfeit pills," said Soran.

Since the recorded case in April, the San Francisco Department of Health has not come across other deaths in the city related to these new synthetic opioids.

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