These has got to be some sort of war-on-drugs or drug policy thing going on here. Why is this so bad where you are, while it isn't a massive problem where I am (New Zealand). Sure there are drug problems (Meth and alcohol are hitting headlines too often), but you rarely seen the sorts of scenes I saw on a brief visit to SF.
SF ends up with drug addicts/mentally ill from an area of maybe 30-50mm people, due to what are perceived (correctly) as more welcoming city services, culture, etc. Add to that the war on drugs and weird issues with medical care for the poor (medi-cal), lots of Vietnam era veterans, etc., and one of the most dysfunctional city/county governments I've ever seen. (Detroit and New Orleans are worse, but those cities are poor; SF is rich).
