A resurfaced video from San Francisco is going viral after showing disturbing street scenes in the city’s downtown core, with multiple people appearing incapacitated, motionless, or heavily impaired in public.
The footage, shared online this week, was reportedly filmed near 7th and Market Street in the Tenderloin district, an area long associated with homelessness, open-air drug activity, and public safety concerns.
In the video, several individuals appear slumped over, frozen in place, or struggling to move while standing. Others are seen surrounded by trash and personal belongings along sidewalks.
The exact date of the footage remains unclear.
However, the San Francisco Police Department reportedly said they believe the video is from several years ago and does not reflect current street conditions.
City officials also pointed to recent enforcement actions, stating that since June 2023 police have made over 14,000 arrests tied to narcotics enforcement and seized more than 1,200 pounds of drugs.
Even with those efforts, San Francisco continues to face one of the nation’s most visible addiction and overdose crises.
The city has spent years battling fentanyl-related deaths, homelessness, mental health emergencies, and criticism over whether public policy has helped or worsened conditions.
Online reactions to the clip were fierce.
Some users described the footage as heartbreaking evidence of failed leadership, while others argued it highlights the need for more treatment beds, rehabilitation access, and mental health intervention rather than enforcement alone.
Officials have noted that overdose deaths reportedly declined in 2025 to the lowest level in several years, though San Francisco still ranks among the hardest-hit major cities on a per-capita basis.
The renewed attention shows how powerful viral footage can become in shaping national views of a city already central to debates over crime, homelessness, and drug policy.
For many viewers, the biggest question is simple: how much progress has really been made?