Opioid epidemic

Opioid overdose deaths are rising

In the U.S., 75% of drug overdose deaths in 2020 involved opioids. Matching nationwide trends, opioid overdose deaths in Minnesota and Hennepin County continue to rise.

Opioid-related deaths in Minnesota and Hennepin County

Source: Minnesota death certificates, MDH. 2021 data are preliminary; Hennepin County geo-coded death data, CDC.

Most opioid overdoses involve fentanyl

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and up to 100 times stronger than morphine. Most recent opioid overdoses involve illicitly manufactured fentanyl sold in the underground drug market.

Fentanyl is often mixed into other illicit drugs because of its potency, which makes the drugs cheaper, more addictive, and more dangerous. Fentanyl can be deadly, even in small amounts.

Opioid deaths involving fentanyl in Hennepin County

Source: Hennepin County geo-coded death data, CDC.

Opioid effects are worse for some groups

The opioid epidemic impacts people from all walks of life, but disproportionately affects certain groups.

Opioid harms are higher for young people

In 2021, 1 in 5 opioid-related deaths in Hennepin County were men ages 25 to 34.

Percent of total opioid-involved deaths in Hennepin County by age, 2017 to 2021

Source: Hennepin County geo-coded death data, CDC.

Deaths disproportionately affect American Indians and African Americans

In Minnesota, American Indian people are seven times more likely to die from a drug overdose as White people. African American people are twice as likely to die from a drug overdose as White people. The racial disparities are similar for opioid overdose deaths.

These differences are influenced by disparities in the social determinants of health, such as housing, food, healthcare, and economic well-being.

Age-adjusted rates, Minnesota drug overdose deaths per 100,000 residents

Source: Minnesota death certificates, MDH.

Age-adjusted rates, Minnesota opioid-involved deaths per 100,000 residents, 2017 to 2019

Source: Minnesota death certificates, MDH. Drug categories are non-exclusive, and deaths may involve more than one drug.

The bigger picture, non-fatal overdoses

Overdose deaths are only a part of the picture.

In 2019, 413 Minnesotans died from an opioid overdose. For every one death, there were:

Source: Minnesota hospital discharge data, MDH. 

Our approach

Hennepin County's approach recognizes that the opioid epidemic is complex and requires a multi-faceted health and safety response. The board approved Opioid Strategic Framework includes the following three pillars and nine priorities:

Prevention 

• Monitoring and communication: track, analyze, and share data related to opioid use
• Education and stigma reduction: coordinate education and messaging about the risks of opioid use, overdose prevention, and resources available
• Managing access: support and obligate providers to use best practice prescribing guidelines
• Safe storage and disposal: promote safe storage and environmentally-sound disposal of medications
• Public safety interventions: reduce illegal distribution and use of opioids

Response 

• Rescue: ensure first responders, necessary county employees, and targeted stakeholders have access to and are trained to administer naloxone
• Harm reduction: coordinate county safe syringe services and naloxone distribution

Treatment and recovery

• Access to treatment and recovery services: partner with communities disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic to design and implement culturally relevant and evidence-based interventions; and transform the substance use disorder treatment system from acute, episodic care to a longitudinal model of care
• Justice-involved supports: increase treatment options and transition planning in correctional settings

Our response

To date, the following work has been accomplished:

Prevention

• Developed an opioid data collection and sharing tool
• Supported and obligated providers to use best practice prescribing guidelines
• Promoted safe storage and environmentally-sound disposal

Response

• Ensured all first responders, necessary county employees and targeted stakeholders have access to and are trained to administer naloxone
• Coordinated two county operated safe syringe services and naloxone distribution

Treatment and recovery

• Implemented substance use disorder (SUD) reform in Hennepin County
• Sought new state and federal opioid grant opportunities
• Ensured contracts have medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) accommodations
• Increased treatment options (MOUD) and transition planning in correctional settings and throughout county clinical settings

Eliminating disparities

• Increased external and internal substance use disorder (SUD) data infrastructure
• Launched multi-year contracts with community organizations who provide culturally relevant response and prevention services to American Indian, African American, unsheltered homeless, and Somali/East African communities

Learn more about the strategic framework

• Opioid prevention community partners, 2023 (PDF)
• Opioid prevention strategic framework, 2020 – strategy and pillars (PDF)
• Opioid prevention strategic framework, 2018 – strategy and pillars (PDF)
• Opioid prevention strategic framework, 2018 – executive summary (PDF)
• Study: Criminal Justice System as a Point of Intervention to Prevent Opioid-related Deaths, 2018 (PDF)

Safe storage and disposal prevents people from accessing medications that weren't prescribed to them. Protect your friends and family by safely storing and properly disposing of medications.

The Hennepin County Sherriff's Office (HCSO) distributes free medication disposal bags at their office locations and by mail. They also host naloxone trainings. Learn more about opioid overdose prevention.

Naloxone (or Narcan)

Drug overdose is preventable. Naloxone (also known as the brand name Narcan) is a medicine that can reverse opioid overdoses when it's given in time. Find naloxone near you with NaloxoneFinder.

Syringe services programs

Syringe services programs offer services to prevent the spread of infectious disease and overdose deaths (also known as harm reduction). Services may include:

• Education about overdose prevention
• Access to sterile syringes and other safer-use supplies
• Disposal of syringes and medications
• Distribution of naloxone kits
• Vaccination, testing, and treatment resources for HIV and hepatitis B and C
• Referrals to health care and substance use treatment services

Learn more about syringe services programs near you:

• Red door syringe services
• NorthPoint harm reduction and testing services
• Twin Cities syringe exchange calendar

You can also purchase clean syringes for a low-cost without a prescription at participating pharmacies through Minnesota's Pharmacy Syringe Needle Access Initiative.

Substance use disorder is treatable, and recovery is possible. 

• Search substance use service openings in Minnesota on Fast-Tracker (use the filter options to find culturally specific, multi-lingual, women-centered, and/or LGBTQ+ focused services)
• Find medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) services on SAMHSA's buprenorphine treatment locater
• Access services for pregnant people and families on Project CHILD and Parent Support Outreach Program
• See information for mental health and substance use service providers
• Visit Hennepin County's addiction help page and mental health and substance use services page

For more information, visit the Minnesota Department of Health's opioid overdose prevention page.