‘Zombie-Like’ San Francisco Clip Goes Viral, But Timeline Remains Unclear

A video showing people appearing disoriented and motionless on a San Francisco street has gone viral online, drawing renewed attention to the city’s long-running drug crisis.

The clip, widely shared on social media, is from the intersection of 7th and Market Street, located in the Tenderloin neighbourhood, an area known for high levels of drug use and homelessness, a New York Post article reported.

In the footage, several individuals are seen standing or moving slowly in unusual positions, with some appearing unresponsive. The scene has been described online as “zombie-like,” a term frequently used in reactions to the video.

According to reports, drug use is visible in the clip. One person is heard saying they were using fentanyl and methamphetamine,

two substances closely linked to overdose deaths across the United States.

The video was posted by a local resident who regularly documents street conditions in the area. However, authorities have said the footage may not reflect the current situation.

The San Francisco Police Department said it believes the video is likely from “a number of years ago” and does not represent present-day conditions in the same way.

Officials pointed to changes since mid-2023, when the city increased enforcement efforts targeting drug activity. According to police data, more than 14,000 arrests have been made and over 1,200 pounds of narcotics seized during that period.

“The city looks vastly different than when this video was taken,” a police spokesperson said.

San Francisco has faced ongoing challenges linked to opioid use, particularly involving fentanyl. The city has recorded some of the highest per-capita overdose rates in the United States, though recent data indicates a decline in deaths compared to previous years.

Local officials have acknowledged that the issue remains serious. Matt Dorsey, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said the city must address the factors that continue to draw drug activity.

“What we are seeing right now is other counties are improving faster than San Francisco is,” he said.

The viral spread of the video has prompted strong reactions online, with users debating both the scale of the problem and the accuracy of the footage.

While the clip has amplified concerns about public drug use, officials have emphasised that it should be viewed in context, particularly given uncertainty about when it was recorded.