Drug overdose deaths in Minnesota drop 1st time in 5 years

MINNEAPOLIS — Drug overdose deaths in Minnesota dropped by 8% in 2023 compared to the year before, preliminary data from the state’s health department show. That’s the first decline since 2018, mirroring national trends. 
Opioids, including highly potent fentanyl, make up a majority of all overdose deaths in the state. But the decrease, experts say, is a welcome sign that a heightened awareness about substance use and the wide availability of naloxone—the overdose reversal drug—are working. 
But the fight isn’t over: Nonfatal opioid overdoses increased by 11%. And the number of people who died from cocaine and psychostimulants like methamphetamine increased. 
“We definitely see that as a major step in the right direction” said Mary DeLaquil, an epidemiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health. “Hopefully with better access to treatment and better education, less stigma and everything else that goes along with the many people working on this in the state—both on the community and local public health level— we’ll see decreases across all metrics.”
Colleen Ronnei, founder and executive director of Change the Outcome, works to educate kids and teens about the dangers of opioids after losing her son Luke to an accidental overdose eight years ago. 
Then, Ronnei said she didn’t know about naloxone. Now, the opioid antagonist is widely available: stocked in schools, over-the-counter at pharmacies, and in public places.
She’s pushed for its accessibility and said her work in schools show more young Minnesotans know how it works and are more likely to use it.
“It’s really so hopeful. That’s really what’s so remarkable about these numbers – it gives people hope,” Ronnei said.”For a lot of people who work in advocacy in this area, there’s compassion fatigue. You get to where you think: is it ever going to get better? And it is getting better.”
DeLaquil also said public awareness of naloxone and its effects are having an impact. But, she noted, other drugs reflected in the latest state data do not have similar a tool available to save someone’s life. 
“Fentanyl is a very dangerous drug, but meth and cocaine are also dangerous drugs, and they do not have a drug reversal medication like we do for opioids—so again,  increasing people’s awareness of what the drug environment is,” she added. 
For every one overdose death in 2023, there were nearly 13 nonfatal overdoses treated in Minnesota hospitals. Those numbers remained stable compared to the previous year. 
The state last year launched the MN Naloxone Portal, which partners with groups to get access  to naloxone at no cost. More than 124,000 nasal naloxone kits were distributed through this portal from September 2023 through July, the department said.