Olmsted County shares update on opioid settlement fund use
Over the past year, Olmsted County has made significant strides in addressing the opioid crisis using opioid settlement funds. Olmsted County is receiving these funds through the State of Minnesota as a result of several national settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors.
Olmsted County’s strategies have included improving education and prevention efforts and supporting programs that help people get into treatment quickly for substance use. The funds have also been used to distribute Naloxone, a medicine that can reverse opioid overdoses.
Funds were also used to create the county’s Drug and Alcohol Response Team (DART). DART is an expansion of the Crisis Response Team, formerly known as the Diversity, Equity, and Community Outreach (DECO) Team. The settlement funds also supported the launch of the “Be in the Know Olmsted” campaign and CredibleMind.
Drug and Alcohol Response Team (DART)
Since its formation in November 2023, DART has become a key part of Olmsted County’s efforts to address substance use. The team has made over 2,100 contacts with clients, served more than 400 people, and completed 40 assessments. They have also made 140 connections with community partners.
DART has played an important role in helping with 911 overdose calls—93% of people they contacted were willing to accept support after an overdose. DART also successfully contacted 85% of people referred to them from other entities. Their work has led to 150 people being admitted to treatment, and one in three clients have been able to access recovery services.
“DART’s work in the community is so important. They help ensure people struggling with substance use get the support they need, whether that’s immediate help or long-term treatment,” said Olmsted County Crisis Response Team Program Manager Sidney Frye.
CredibleMind
The opioid settlement funds have also helped Olmsted County provide more mental health and recovery resources through CredibleMind. This online tool offers trusted, private support, available 24/7. Along with general well-being information, CredibleMind includes resources focused on addiction and recovery. The platform is available in Spanish, Somali, and Arabic, so more residents can access support in their own language.
“Our goal with CredibleMind is to create a place where people can easily find mental health resources whenever they need them,” said Olmsted County Public Health Services Community Health Specialist Abby Tricker. “With links to local services and support in different languages, we are making sure more residents in our community can get help.”
"Be in the Know Olmsted" Campaign
From June 18 to August 31, 2024, Olmsted County ran the “Be in the Know Olmsted” campaign, created by Russell Herder. The campaign ran while DART was out in the community doing outreach events. This campaign aimed to teach people about the risks of substance use. It included a website with downloadable fact sheets and ads on Google, Meta, and Snapchat.
The campaign gave residents tools to start open conversations about substance use, helping to reduce stigma and build understanding in the community.
Olmsted County is committed to using opioid settlement funds wisely to continue addressing the substance use crisis. In 2025, the team will build on existing efforts through DART’s services, the CredibleMind platform, and the “Be in the Know Olmsted” website.