A new report highlights the impact of opioids on Minnesota tribal communities. The report shows that barriers still exist in preventing opioid abuse, including lack of funding and a lack of focus on “culture and values.” MDH Director of American Indian Health Jackie Dionne says Minnesota ranks highest among all states in deaths due to drug poisoning among American Indians and Alaska natives, “five times greater than the white Minnesota rate.” In addition…
Tribal law enforcement leaders and other state officials say more culturally-specific treatment for addicted tribal members would likely result in a better success rate. Drug overdoses have increased by 430-percent in Minnesota since 2000, and that includes a disproportionate number of women and Native Americans. The report is a summary of a Tribal-State Opioid Summit that took place last fall involving Minnesota’s 11 tribal nations.
You can read the report in its entirety here.