Healing Together
About the Campaign
The opioid overdose crisis has had a disproportionate impact on Black communities. According to preliminary 2020 data published by the Minnesota Department of Health, African Americans in Minnesota face three times the risk of fatal drug overdose as white Minnesotans. This is not representative of high rates of drug use, but rather can be attributed to the same socio-economic and historical obstacles that account for numerous other overall health disparities. Trauma, negative representations/stereotyping, barriers to health services, stigma, lack of culturally responsive and culturally specific care, and distrust in emergency response structures are among some of the reasons that Black communities experience challenges in overdose prevention, SUD treatment, and recovery.
Healing Together is a campaign to address the overdose rate disparities in Black communities through overdose prevention, awareness, and strategic partnerships. Under the guidance of our Advisory Council, we are seeking to fill critical resource gaps in areas that have contributed to such disparities in the state of Minnesota. The goal of the campaign is to lower the barriers to overdose prevention resources for Black Minnesotans.
Learn more about the campaign here:
Know Your Options
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, there are organizations and care providers in the state of Minnesota who offer culturally specific care.
The Steve Rummler HOPE Network provides the opioid overdose reversal medication, naloxone, and overdose prevention training free of charge.
Our Advisory Council
This work is led by a council of individuals who use their personal and professional expertise to combat disparities in addiction treatment and the impact of the opioid crisis on BIPOC communities.
Get Involved
Find information about the impact of the opioid epidemic on BIPOC communities, and join us in spreading awareness of this crisis.
Stay Informed, Join the Cause,
Be Connected
Stay up-to-date with the Steve Rummler HOPE Network Newsletter.