Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Jon Collins

'NOverdose' campaign aims to decrease Hennepin County opioid deaths toll

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Doses of naloxone hydrochloride
Doses of naloxone, an overdose drug.
Toby Talbot | AP 2013

Hennepin County officials and community organizations are launching an effort that they hope will reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths in the county this year.

The new campaign follows the release of statistics showing that the state's most populous county saw an increase of more than 30 percent in opioid overdose deaths last year.

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said opioids, the family of drugs that includes opioid painkillers and heroin, killed 144 people in the county in 2016. Those who died ranged in age from 16 to 98.

"If we had 144 homicides in Hennepin County, people would be shouting," Stanek said. "What's the difference?"

Stanek said law enforcement is good at investigating the criminal aspect of the drug epidemic, but it needs community partners to help raise awareness of the dangers of overdose.

"We can do more. The public safety messaging is important," Stanek said. "We want to get the message out far and wide that we've got a problem and it's going to take the community to help us get back on track here."

They're calling the campaign "NOverdose."

Stanek has been a vocal advocate of policy to prevent opioid overdose deaths, including the 2015 Steve's Law, which made the opioid antidote naloxone more widely available.

Hennepin was one of the first counties in the state to outfit sheriff's deputies with naloxone. Stanek said deputies have reversed overdoses with the antidote at least six times in the county in the last few months.

Statewide numbers for opioid overdose deaths 2016 aren't yet available, but at least 338 people died in 2015, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The numbers of deaths statewide has increased fivefold since 1999.