Fentanyl contributes to rise in Minnesota overdose deaths – Austin Daily Herald

ST. PAUL — The quantity of people that died of drug overdoses in Minnesota climbed by greater than 20% final yr.

State Division of Well being information present not less than 1,286 folks in Minnesota died of overdoses in 2021. And, a lot of the deaths have been brought on by artificial opioids like fentanyl, which noticed a 32% enhance in deadly overdoses in comparison with 2020.

About 450 different deaths have been brought on by methamphetamine overdoses and 151 deaths have been brought on by cocaine.

Minnesota’fs numbers mirror elevated drug overdose deaths throughout the nation as fentanyl has been blended with different medicine like cocaine.

“This enhance in drug overdose deaths is alarming, however there are issues we will do about it,” mentioned Minnesota Commissioner of Well being Jan Malcolm.

State well being officers suggest that packages ought to make it simpler for folks to get naloxone, or Narcan, the medicine that may reverse an opioid overdose. In addition they suggest that individuals who use medicine purchase fentanyl take a look at strips to make sure they aren’t contaminated.