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.