New funding targets opioid prevention, treatment in communities of color

SRHN’s Director of Programs, Allie Carey, was featured in a recent article published by Minnesota Spokesman Recorder on March 1st. The article highlighted new funding for the state of MN that will be to be used to expand available services for people with opioid use disorder, primarily Native, Black, and communities of color.

“African American or Black residents in our state face three times the risk of fatal overdose deaths that White Minnesotans do,” Carey said. That’s despite the fact that research shows “the actual use of these types of substances is pretty level across demographic groups.”

The article also mentioned the possibility of naloxone, the opioid reversal medication, being made available over the counter, currently only available by prescription and at certain access points in Minnesota. Over-the-counter access to naloxone would be a step toward advancing the fight against the opioid crisis, said Carey, but “It doesn’t necessarily take away some of the other barriers that people might face.” 

These barriers include; systemic barriers to accessing healthcare, stigma, distrust of emergency services, and lack of culturally responsive services.

Click here to read the full article.