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Note From the Office
We hope everyone had a wonderful Recovery Month. At the Office of Addiction and Recovery (OAR) we celebrated Recovery Month with a proclamation from the Governor and gratitude for everyone sharing the gift of their recovery with others. A highlight for OAR was the annual Walk for Recovery at the Capitol. Thousands of Minnesotans gathered to celebrate the experience, strength, and hope they have found through their recovery journeys.
Over the summer OAR continued its work engaging with partners, expanding access to SUD supports and services, working with agency partners in deploying investments, and developing policies to reduce stigma and increase recovery. Since July, OAR participated in conferences and events across Minnesota including at White Earth, in Mankato, Winona, and in the Metro. The Office also kept momentum going on work to increase access to medicines for opioid use disorder for incarcerated populations, addressing substance use with unsheltered Minnesotans, and developing strategies to address adolescent substance misuse.
News and Updates
Recovery Month
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) 7 in 10 adults with a substance use disorder consider themselves to be recovering or in recovery. OAR celebrated Recovery Month at the Walk for Recovery at the Capitol and with a Recovery Month Proclamation from the Governor. The Governor also issued a proclamation recognizing Fentanyl Awareness and Prevention Day on August 21, and directed the 35W Bridge be lit purple in memory of all those lost to fentanyl poisoning.
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 Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) Executive Order
This week the Governor issued an RFW executive order to support communities by recognizing recovery from substance use disorder as a strength and by being willing to work intentionally with people in recovery. RFWs encourage a healthy and safe environment where employers, employees, and communities can collaborate to create positive change and eliminate barriers for those impacted by addiction.
 Unprecedented Work in Overdose Prevention Across Minnesota
In September, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced it has awarded more than 65 overdose prevention grants and contracts to community-based organizations, health systems, Tribal nations, counties and other organizations across the state following receipt of historic investment in drug overdose prevention through the Comprehensive Drug Overdose and Morbidity Prevention Act (COMPA) in 2023. The agency received $24 million for this work.
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Preliminary Data Shows Overdose Deaths Decreasing
There is encouraging news with overdose deaths appearing to decline for the first time in many years. Preliminary data from the Centers of Disease Control suggests that nationally there is a 3% reduction in deaths in 2023, and similarly preliminary data from the Minnesota Department of Health is reporting that Minnesota saw an 8% decrease in overall drug overdose deaths from 2022-2023. Separate reporting from National Public Radio over a more recent time period suggests 10% fewer deaths nationally. While any reduction in deaths is a good thing, even one overdose death is one too many, and OAR and its state partners are laser-focused on continuing their work to ensure Minnesota is doing everything it can to keep every Minnesotan healthy and safe. Minnesotans can receive monthly updates on overdose prevention work from the Minnesota Department of Health’s Overdose Prevention Monthly Update.
 Read the full 2023 preliminary report
Public Engagement
The Office of Addiction and Recovery continued its work engaging with Minnesotans across the state. In July, OAR gave keynote remarks at the National Native Harm Reduction Summit in White Earth and spoke at the Indigenous People’s Task Force Gala at Mystic Lake. In August, OAR spoke at a Fentanyl Awareness event in Mankato. In September, OAR presented at a rural substance use provider workforce event at Minnesota State University and participated in Recovery events in St. Paul, Bloomington, and North Minneapolis. In early October, OAR was honored to participate in a Remember our Loved Ones memorial hosted by Indigenous Peoples Task Force and RIPple Drug Education and Awareness, Inc.
 Thrive Family Recovery Resources executive director, and Advisory Council member Pam Lanhart, and her team hosted a family recovery fun day at Hometown Church in Bloomington. The event aimed to bring resources and family activities together to celebrate recovery.
 Twin Cities Recovery Project and Advisory Council member LaTricia Tate co-hosted a community engagement event with OAR at Sanctuary Church in North Minneapolis. The event aimed to put a spotlight on adolescent substance use disorder and featured a youth panel that provided a space for them to talk about addiction in their community and share their personal experiences and struggles with substance use disorder.
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