New Documentary "Drowning Them Slowly" Exposes San Francisco's Fentanyl Crisis

A new documentary, "Drowning Them Slowly," is drawing attention to the escalating addiction crisis in San Francisco, particularly the devastating impact of fentanyl. The film, promoted by "Six Seven" on social media, features prominent recovery advocates Fetty Krueger, Tom Wolf (@twolfrecovery), and JJ Smith (@war24182236), shedding light on the city's struggle with substance abuse. The tweet from "Six Seven" urged viewers to "Watch the Trailer," highlighting the dire situation where "they’re trying to stop the bodies from piling up. But they just can’t stop 'Drowning them Slowly'."

The documentary delves into the grim realities faced by individuals and communities in San Francisco, a city grappling with a severe drug epidemic. Reports indicate that the Tenderloin neighborhood, in particular, has become a focal point, with thousands of homeless drug users caught in the grip of fentanyl, an opioid significantly more potent than heroin. The city has seen hundreds of drug-related deaths annually, with bodies frequently discovered on the streets.

Recovery advocate Tom Wolf, known for his work with Sunflower Sober and his own journey from homelessness, is a central figure in the film. His social media presence frequently highlights the urgent need for intervention and criticizes existing harm reduction policies, advocating for more robust treatment options. Wolf has previously stated, "If you want to keep federal troops out of San Francisco, remove the organized drug dealers and 80% of the problem goes away."

The film appears to align with broader journalistic efforts to document San Francisco's public health emergency. An ARTE.tv documentary titled "USA: San Francisco Ravaged by Fentanyl," released in November 2024, covers similar ground, featuring individuals who appear to be Wolf and Smith discussing the crisis and attempts to offer help. This broader context underscores the critical nature of the issues explored in "Drowning Them Slowly."

The documentary aims to provide an unfiltered look at the human cost of addiction, featuring personal stories and the challenges of recovery. It seeks to provoke discussion and action regarding the systemic issues contributing to the crisis, including the availability of drugs and the effectiveness of current support systems. The full documentary is reportedly available via a thread linked in the original tweet, suggesting an independent distribution model.