DEPARTMENT: Public Health
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
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Update On Opioid Settlement Funds And Proclamation Of August As Overdose Awareness Month In Dakota County
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Update on opioid settlement funds and proclaim August as Overdose Awareness Month in Dakota County.
SUMMARY
August is International Overdose Awareness Month, a global initiative aimed at raising awareness about overdose prevention and honoring those impacted by Substance Use Disorder (SUD). The misuse of alcohol and other drugs are important risk factors for chronic disease, disability, and death in the United States. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, in 2023, there were a total of sixty deaths due to drug overdose in Dakota County, which was a slight increase from 2022. Emergency room visits for non-fatal drug overdoses are also on the rise.
Dakota County staff, in partnership with other organizations, are committed to building public awareness and addressing stigma as important steps in supporting people to access treatment and support for both mental health and SUD. To that end, Dakota County staff are engaging in a variety of efforts throughout August to promote education, prevention, and support resources. These include community events, training sessions on the use of naloxone (a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses), and public messaging campaigns designed to reduce stigma and encourage open conversations about substance use. By fostering a more informed community, Dakota County aims to save lives, support recovery, and honor those who have been affected by overdose.
Staff is requesting that in observance of this proclamation, the Northern Service Center and Dakota County Crisis and Recovery Center be lit up in purple on August 31, 2025, International Overdose Awareness Day. Staff will use inexpensive purple filters with the buildings' existing lights to create the purple light. Dakota County residents, businesses, and ...
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