Want San Francisco to Be Better? Do Something About It

the streets of the Tenderloin. Recent data shows that this is a citywide problem, with overdoses happening in every neighborhood.

Two local community organizations are stepping up to help by offering free workshops to teach the public how to recognize and respond to these emergencies, since people at music and entertainment venues are particularly susceptible to drug overdoses. As the invitation says, “Lots of venues and bars now carry naloxone in case of emergency, but it doesn’t work unless someone knows how to help.” https://tinyurl.com/BFFFMnar with Alzheimer’s, chances are you know someone who does, or perhaps someone who is caring for someone with the disease. In California alone, there are 1.6 million people providing unpaid care for a person with Alzheimer’s.

Both trainings are scheduled for May 24 From 7–8 pm. Community radio station BFF.FM is teaming up with the San Francisco Department of Public Health to present a free training on Overdose Recognition and Response. Eileen Loughran, Director of the Office of Overdose Prevention at the SF Department of Public Health, will cover how to identify someone in distress, how to respond, and how to administer naloxone.

Admission is free, but registration through Eventbrite is required.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s. But Medicare has blocked access to FDA-approved treatments that can be beneficial, particularly to people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Medicare covers all so special—beyond our fabulous vistas and ocean breezes—is the people. And there are plenty of people left in this city who haven’t given up on San Francisco. Each of us can do something that will help, from picking up trash to helping an ailing neighbor. Let’s prove the naysayers wrong, and restore the magic to our city.

Free Trainings: Overdose Recognition & Response

A couple of weeks ago I fell at work. It was a hard fall, and I was down for the count for quite a while. But I was fortunate that there were co-workers on hand who were well-versed in basic first aid, and knew what to do until the EMTs arrived.

A city that cares is filled with people who know how to take care of each other. A working knowledge of basic first aid should be part of everyone’s toolkit: you never know when you will come upon someone who needs immediate help. Knowing what to do when someone falls, or is bleeding, or suffers a medical emergency like heart attack or stroke, can save a life in those crucial first minutes.

Sadly, one of the most frequent emergencies in our city today is drug overdoses. The statistics are devastating, and eye-opening. Over the past two years, far more people have died of drug overdoses in San Francisco than from COVID-19. It is a leading cause of death in our city, but it is also preventable. And despite public perceptions, it isn’t just happening on https://tinyurl.com/LLCDNarc

On the same night, from 6–8 pm, the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District and harm reduction advocate Kochina Rude are partnering with Oasis to present a training open to the general public. This is their second year of responding to the overdoses in our community of hosting Narcan trainings, but previous events have been limited to entertainment venue staff. Each participant will receive a two-pack of Narcan. The event is free, but Eventbrite registration is required so they know how many Narcan packs to supply.

These workshops are great examples of San Franciscans stepping up to help provide solutions to the problems in our city.

Action Alert: Rally for Access to Alzheimer’s Drugs on May 24

Imagine being told there was a medicine that could help you live longer, and live your life more fully. Then imagine it being snatched away, because you were not deemed “eligible” for it. That’s the situation that people with Alzheimer’s find themselves in, so a rally is being planned in San Francisco on May 24 to fight for access for all who need it.

In 2019, there were 18,749 people in San Francisco diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. By 2040, that number is expected to more than double, to over 37,000. This is a public health crisis. If you don’t currently know someone

FDA-approved drugs, except those for Alzheimer’s. Access to these treatments means a person living with dementia has the possibility of a longer, fuller life, including time to hope for a cure. The thing is, every day without access to these FDA-approved drugs, more than 2,000 people transition to a more advanced stage Alzheimer’s where they are no longer eligible for treatment. This is a preventable tragedy.

The Alzheimer’s Association is organizing a Rally for Access on Wednesday, May 24, at 11:30 am at the CMS Western Regional Office at 90 7th Street in San Francisco (aka the Federal Building). There will be signs and a sign-making station at the rally site from 10:30–11 am. Bring photos of your loved ones to personalize your sign, and be prepared to share your story.

Alzheimer’s or other dementias touch almost every family. Don’t know anyone with Alzheimer’s? Just wait—you will. This is an issue that affects all of us, whether you are a patient, a caregiver, a friend, a co-worker, a business owner. Register for the rally here: https://tinyurl.com/ALZRally

Hitting the Streets for Heklina

Heklina was larger than life, and so, as it turns out, is her memorial. The original plans for an indoor event at the Castro Theatre imploded when the tickets sold out immediately. Clearly, no one theatre, not even the mighty Castro, could hold Heklina’s legions of fans. The solution? Take it to the streets.

So, Heklina’s memorial on May 23rd will be live-streamed from the stage of the Castro Theatre to two giant screens outside the theatre on Castro Street. Pro tip #1: Get there early.

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