A third round of funding from the 2021 opiod settlement will be available from April 21 to May 23, 2025, for organizations to apply for settlement funds in Lyon, Pipestone, Redwood, and Rock counties.
According to Southwest Health and Human Services, priority will be given to applicants that emphasize prevention and raise community awareness regarding substance misuse (other categories include harm reduction, treatment/ recovery, and criminal justice). Organizations with innovative solution-based proposals are encouraged to apply.
“In 2018, Minnesota recorded 349 opioid-involved overdose deaths,” said Jenna Stephenson, Opiod Settlement Grant Manager for Southwest Health and Human Services. “By 2022, that number rose to 1,039. However, in 2023, that number reduced slightly to 1,001; data for 2024 has not yet been released.”
The impact of opioid epidemic can be felt in communities both large and small throughout the United States. In 2021, a national settlement spanning over 18 years was reached between various pharmaceutical companies and the United States government in order to attempt to reduce damage done and prevent further harm from opioid use/ misuse. These funds, paired with national efforts to reform pharmaceutical regulations, work to mitigate harm done to our communities and to improve the lives of all Americans.
“We eagerly anticipate reviewing applications from community organizations as they develop creative strategies to combat the harmful impacts of the opioid epidemic,” Stephenson said. “Southwest Minnesota has felt the weight of this tragedy, but we firmly believe that by collaborating on solutions, we can start to meet the needs of our communities.”
In southwest Minnesota, early use of these funds has been used to initiate several significant programs; launching medication assisted treatment and case management for pregnant and postpartum people, creating licensed alcohol and drug counselor academic programs, funding K-9 detection dogs for law enforcement, expanding detox facilities, and improving community awareness surrounding substance misuse. These initiatives, among others, are actively addressing the effects of addiction within our communities.
“Any organizations that have ideas on how they can address opioid misuse and the damages resulting from misuse are welcome to apply for the third round of funding,” Stephenson said. “We will be giving priority to applicants that address prevention and community awareness.”
With the funds provided from the Opioid Settlement, the Buffalo Ridge Drug & Violent Crime Task Force was able to purchase a trace narcotics detection system. With the use of this system, agents have been able to successfully identify, detect, and confirm the presence of narcotics including but not limited to opioids found in different narcotics safely.
Any questions about the applications process or funds available can be directed to Kristin Deacon or Jenna Stephenson at opioid. settlementfunding@swhhsmn. gov.
Minnesotans have suffered tremendously from the opioid epidemic. According to the Minneota Attorney General opioid overdose deaths have increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from the Minnesota Department of Health shows that from 2020 to 2021, opioidinvolved overdose deaths increased by 44%, to an alltime high of 978 deaths in 2021. Fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid, was involved in the majority of the deaths.
In July 2021, the Attorney General’s Office joined historic $26 billion multistate settlement agreements with pharmaceutical distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen, and opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. These settlements will bring more than $300 million into Minnesota over the next 18 years to fight the opioid crisis.
Minnesota’s share of this agreement could be as much as $337 million over 18 years, with significant payments frontloaded in the first five years. The spending of State of Minnesota funds from the agreement will be overseen by the State’s Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council.
The agreement also requires data transparency and significant industry changes that will help prevent this type of crisis from ever happening again. The agreement would resolve investigations and claims against these companies of the nearly 4,000 states and local governments across the country that have filed lawsuits in federal and state courts.
