Minnesota & Affected Population

THE FACT IS

WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER

LEARN MORE ABOUT OPIOIDS IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Source: MDH

SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN MINNESOTA

According to preliminary data from the Minnesota Department of Health, there were an estimated 977 opioid-involved overdose deaths in 2021. In contrast, that’s 489 more lives than were lost to car crashes that year.

It is an urgent public health crisis that demands action.

Data shows that opioid-involved deaths in Minnesota have increased by 43% from 2020 to 2021 – with synthetic opioids being involved in 90% of all opioid-involved deaths during that time.

ALL OF MINNESOTA DESERVES TO THRIVE

Access to medication-assisted treatment and harm reduction services is an essential dimension of truly equitable public health. As communities big and small work to address their prevention, treatment, and recovery needs, it’s possible to lower opioid overdose-related deaths.

This is why State Opioid Response-funded (SOR) initiatives have been awarded to Minnesota counties, tribes, healthcare providers, and community agencies. Together, we can expand services, address disparities and increase the availability of life-saving medications.

COMMUNITY AND RACE DISPARITIES

The impact of the opioid crisis has hit some Minnesotans harder than others.

There are significant differences in drug overdose rates among racially and ethnically diverse populations in Minnesota and among the LGBTQ+ community.

In Minnesota, factors like systemic racism have prevented communities of color (particularly African American and American Indian Minnesotans) from having equal access to the resources needed to be healthy. Poverty, adverse childhood experiences, trauma, and intergenerational substance use influence health and can ultimately result in higher overdose death rates throughout communities of color than whites.

Source: MDH

Trauma, Health, and Inequities in Care

The Minnesota Department of Health developed a Race Rate Disparity in Drug Overdose Death report that outlines the realities of poverty, racism, classism, social isolation, sexual exploitation, and other social inequities that affect people’s vulnerability to and capacity for effectively dealing with drug-related harms.

See the complete Race Rate Disparity in Drug Overdose Death report from the Minnesota Department of Health.

Complexity Behind Disparities

According to the Minnesota Department of Health’s Federal Opioid Briefing, there are many reasons why various cultural community members are using prescription and illicit opioids to self-medicate and dying from an overdose at such high numbers. Some of the reasons are:

Higher incidents of historical trauma
Higher incidents of adverse childhood experiences
Lack of access to medical care and/or non-opioid
treatment options
Stigma in pursuing chemical health treatment and recovery supports
Failure to appropriately diagnose physical or mental
health symptoms

Lack of research about the effectiveness of
interventions within American Indian communities
Easier access to illicit drugs within the community
Racial bias on the part of providers who prematurely
and/or abruptly discontinue opioids
Lack of access to culturally responsive treatment
The practice of sharing prescription medications with prescription medications with loved one

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