State officials seek input on substance abuse strategy

State officials will present and gather input on the Minnesota State Substance Abuse Strategy (PDF) at regional meetings in Duluth, Bemidji and Rochester this month.
 
Substance abuse and addiction inflict a devastating human and financial toll on Minnesota. The impact of alcohol use alone costs the state over $5 billion a year. The first statewide plan to tackle substance abuse is designed to save lives and dollars by making prevention and treatment efforts more effective and efficient. It calls for coordination by state and local partners to address an increase in heroin and prescription opiate abuse in the short-term, as well as makes long-term recommendations that balance prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery support services, public safety and research to decrease all substance abuse and addiction.
 
The strategy was released in September and is a collaboration of the Department of Human Services and several state agencies. Local leaders will join commissioners from the Departments of Human Services, Public Safety and Health on a panel to discuss the strategy at each regional meeting. The meetings are open to the public. There will be an opportunity for audience members to provide input.
 
Minnesota State Substance Abuse Strategy meetings:

• 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at the Duluth Public Safety Building, 2030 N. Arlington Ave., Duluth, MN 55811
• 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at Bemidji State University in Hobson Memorial Union, Crying Wolf Room, 1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Bemidji, MN 56601
• 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, at Olmsted County Community Services, 2117 Campus Drive SE, Rochester, MN  55904