Our World S2022E09 - Fixing San Francisco

During the first year of the pandemic, San Francisco had more deaths from drug overdoses than Covid. In December, the mayor declared a state of emergency in parts of the city - in a desperate attempt to tackle the problem. In a spectacular U-turn, she declared the city needed 'tough love' and reversed her policies on defunding the police.

For Our World, James Clayton speaks to rough sleepers, addicts, and politicians and asks why one of the wealthiest cities in the world has had so many deaths from drugs. He looks at how the lethal drug fentanyl has ripped through the city and follows the story of a mother desperately trying to find her addicted son before it's too late. He also speaks to the two most important politicians in the city - the mayor and the district attorney - and explores why they disagree on how to fix San Francisco.