News (Media Awareness Project) - US CA: Heroin Users' Infections Cost City $40 Million A Year |
| Title: | US CA: Heroin Users' Infections Cost City $40 Million A Year |
| Published On: | 2000-03-25 |
| Source: | San Jose Mercury News (CA) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-04 23:42:10 |
HEROIN USERS' INFECTIONS COST CITY $40 MILLION A YEAR
SAN FRANCISCO - As much as $40 million a year is spent by San Francisco to
treat abscesses in heroin users, including infections caused by the
so-called flesh-eating bacteria, experts told a Board of Supervisors
committee.
The abscesses are caused by injecting the drug into a muscle. Black tar
heroin, the cheap and potent variety which comes mainly from Mexico, was
blamed for most of the infections.
San Francisco General Hospital handled 4,300 abscess cases in 1998-1999, up
from fewer than 3,000 in 1995-1996.
The health department is asking the supervisors for $1 million to set up a
wound care center at the hospital.
Compiled from staff and wire reports by Mercury News Staff Writer Kaye
Ross. Contact her at kross@sjmercury.com or (408) 920-5083.
SAN FRANCISCO - As much as $40 million a year is spent by San Francisco to
treat abscesses in heroin users, including infections caused by the
so-called flesh-eating bacteria, experts told a Board of Supervisors
committee.
The abscesses are caused by injecting the drug into a muscle. Black tar
heroin, the cheap and potent variety which comes mainly from Mexico, was
blamed for most of the infections.
San Francisco General Hospital handled 4,300 abscess cases in 1998-1999, up
from fewer than 3,000 in 1995-1996.
The health department is asking the supervisors for $1 million to set up a
wound care center at the hospital.
Compiled from staff and wire reports by Mercury News Staff Writer Kaye
Ross. Contact her at kross@sjmercury.com or (408) 920-5083.
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