People who use drugs (PWUD) in San Francisco experience a disproportionate burden of several health conditions, including accidental overdose, hepatitis C, and HIV, among others. In 2022, the San Francisco Department of Public Health approached Facente Consulting to conduct a needs assessment related to the health of PWUD in San Francisco. The goals of the needs assessment were to: (i) gain a better understanding of the rapidly evolving needs of PWUD in light of the enduring presence of fentanyl in the drug supply, (ii) consider how to reframe services for PWUD to fill service gaps, reduce barriers, and maximize the impact of SFDPH’s various existing interventions and activities, and (iii) explore the root causes of racial disparities in overdose rates among Black/African American San Franciscans.
Facente Consulting conducted a landscape analysis that emphasized stakeholder engagement through interviews and focus groups. At the end of the project, Facente Consulting disseminated key findings in several formats, including (i) a report with recommendations for SFDPH’s internal use, (ii) an analysis of Black/African American overdose rates and interventions from a racial equity lens, (iii) a slide deck and presentation to SFDPH staff, and (iv) a graphically designed, public-facing two-page summary with high-level themes.
Photo courtesy National Institute on Drug Abuse