Cass County Opioid Settlement Fund Committee of the county board is providing the third in a four-part series on opioids to increase the community’s awareness.
The series includes facts about fentanyl; opioid overdose and naloxone; opioid prevention and response; and opioid treatment and recovery. This is in recognition of National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day held Aug. 21 and International Overdose Awareness Day “Together We Can” Aug. 31.
Everyone has a role in responding to opioids in our communities. Increasing awareness and education about opioids and other drugs can prevent the first use of substances.
Prevention encompasses a variety of strategies as it pertains to drugs which can be very upstream. These range from preventing first use by educating youth on harm to downstream prevention, such as treatment to support persons with a substance use condition.
Operation Prevention provides resources to parents, schools and workplaces, as well as culture-based resources for education about drugs at operationprevention.com
The only safe medications are ones that come from licensed and accredited medical professionals. Pills purchased outside of a licensed pharmacy are illegal, dangerous and potentially lethal. Opioid Prescribing Guidelines were developed for acute, post-acute and chronic pain for medical professionals as part of upstream prevention actions.
Store over-the-counter medications and prescription medications safely out of reach of children. Lock up any prescribed narcotic medications to prevent misuse by others. Follow the directions on the medication bottle as prescribed. Do not share medications with others.
Proper disposal of unwanted and expired medications, especially opioids, can be brought to the Take it to The Box locations at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, 303 Minnesota Ave. W in Walker; Cass Lake City Hall/Law Enforcement Center 330 2nd Street NW; Lake Shore City Hall/Law Enforcement Center 8583 Interlachen Road; or Pine River City Hall/Law Enforcement Center 200 Front St. No..
Preventing overdose deaths and other opioid harms include naloxone for opioid overdose reversal, fentanyl test strips and treatment for people who would like to reduce their use or stop using substances completely.
Cass County Opioid Settlement Fund Committee is working in partnership with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe to prioritize prevention strategies in our communities. Law enforcement is working to promote safety and prevent drug use by getting drugs off the streets. Probation is working to decrease recidivism of persons on parole.
As part of opioid response, Cass County has hired a chief strategist, allocated $50,000 for expanded access to medication for opioid use disorder for persons experiencing incarceration and has allocated $400,000 for Opioid Settlement Fund distribution in the community for 2024.
Help is available. Free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information services for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders are available at 800-662-HELP (4357).
Together we can make a difference when we all stand together in our community by joining the Cass County Opioid Settlement Fund Committee public meetings that are normally held on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 10 to 11 a.m. More information can be found at www.casscountymn.gov or by contacting Jamie.richter@cass countymn.gov or by phone 218-547-6833. For additional resources about opioids visit www.health.state.mn.us/communities/opioids
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