RAMSEY COUNTY, Minn. — Opioid overdose deaths in Minnesota increased dramatically during the COVID pandemic, but since then, new steps have been taken to help save lives.
This year, the state legislature passed a law mandating all schools and police officers carry the overdose-reversing drug, naloxone, and a new program just launched in Ramsey County that aims to extend naloxone further into community.
The county's public health department is now mailing out free naloxone kits to households that request them.
"As of this moment, we have 327 orders made," said health educator Ryan Rasmussen, who leads the pilot project that officially launched Monday. "So its going very well so far."
The project is funded using state opioid settlement funds.
Each kit includes two doses of the nasal spray and a booklet explaining how to use it. It says the first step is to identify the overdose.
"If they're able to wake up, then we probably don't have an opioid overdose," Rasmussen said. "If they don't [wake up], then we need to check their breathing."
The next step is to call 911, followed by administering naloxone.
"The cartridge goes directly into the nasal, we hit the plunger, and that gives the medicine," Rasmussen explained.
The kits also come with a breathing barrier, gloves, a list of resources, and an informational sheet on the county's existing Syringe Service Program.
At least 1,200 boxes are available in the initial phase, with a limit of one per household. Public Health Director Sara Hollie encourages those in areas most impacted by the opioid crisis to request one.
"We're looking at that data," Hollie said. "We'll be utilizing our Trusted Messenger Program through Public Health to get the word out to racially and ethnically diverse communities because we know that Black and American Indian residents are most impacted by opioid related deaths."
She says there have been around 170 such deaths this year countywide.
Ramsey County residents can order the kits on the county's website.
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