Monitor Progress and Identify What Works

See how Minnesota is tracking progress on the opioid epidemic, evaluating programs, and identifying areas for improvement.

Monitor Progress

Track trends, investments, and outcomes related to Minnesota’s opioid epidemic and response. These resources provide data and information to help understand how Minnesota is progressing over time.

Track statewide progress

• Learn about trends in fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses on the Minnesota Department of Health’s Drug Overdose Dashboards.
• Track Minnesota’s investments through grants and opioid settlements on the Opioid Epidemic Response Spending Dashboard.
• Read the Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council’s (OERAC) annual reports: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024.

Track program outcomes

• Learn about the OERAC grantees’ activities, outputs, and outcomes: 2023, 2024.
• Explore example output and outcome measures community programs can use to monitor and improve their services.

Evaluate What Works

Explore MMB’s evaluations and other analyses that examine the effectiveness and outcomes of opioid response programs, services, and policies. These resources help identify what is working and where there may be opportunities for improvement.

Impact evaluations

Studies designed to assess the effects of a program or policy.

• Evaluation of early opioid policy response: Impact of policies to curtail opioid prescribing (2020)
• Evaluation of opioid-focused ECHO programs in Minnesota (2021)
• Evaluation of a Buprenorphine Boot Camp training (2022)
• Evaluation of peer recovery services for substance use disorder (2022)
• Yellow Line Project impact evaluation: Effects on recidivism and use of health care services (2023)

Evidence reviews and analysis

Research that brings together existing evidence or examines outcomes across programs and populations.

• Naloxone distribution programs: Evidence-based practices review (2026)
• Measuring naloxone distribution and use in Minnesota: A brief landscape analysis (2025)

Identify Areas of Need

Explore data and research that highlight gaps, challenges, and populations or communities that may need additional support. These analyses help inform where future investments and evaluations may be most useful.

• Treating OUD for criminal justice-involved individuals (2022)
• Minnesota Health Care Programs access for individuals exiting incarceration (2023)
• Mapping opioid harms, services, and spending in Minnesota (2025)

Suggest an Evaluation

Have a program, service, or investment related to the opioid epidemic that you think would benefit from evaluation? Please email us at ResultsManagement@state.mn.us.