Drug overdose deaths in Minnesota last year were in line with a national rising trend according to Minnesota Department of Health data released late last week.
MDH reported a 22 percent increase in overdose from 2020 to 2021 with 1,286 deaths reported. According to the Centers for Disease Control, drug overdose deaths topped 100,000 during 12-month period ending in April 2021, an increase of 28.5% from the 78,056 deaths during the same period the year before.
"For much of the pandemic people put off getting care for a number of different things, including substance abuse and mental health issues," said Dr. Damir Urtzan, Manager of Mental Health Services and Interim Psychiatric Administrator for the Midwest Region at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
Dr. Urtzan says delayed treatment means people are struggling significantly by the time they seek help.
"On one hand those [MDH] estimates are staggering, but on the other hand, we're not surprised by them given the psychiatric acuity we've seen at our facilities nationwide and in the Midwest."
Center City, Minnesota is home to Hazelden's largest treatment site. The facility is licensed for nearly 200 beds between residential and outpatient treatment.
Back in March, the facility saw the largest number of residential admissions than it ever has since opening in 1949.
"Along those numbers we have seen an extraordinary number of highly psychiatric acute people come through our doors," Dr. Urtzan said. "Upon admission people typically spend one to three days on our medical service unit monitoring for withdrawal management. We have seen a lot of effort go into stabilizing individuals. Afterwards the symptoms of mental health become prevalent and their functioning deteriorates to some degree. They maintain with the substances during that time, but when they get off, even if medically stable, we see people with paranoid delusions and hallucinations requiring a higher level of care than previously before the pandemic."
The fight against fentanyl
MDH reported last week that of 834 overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids, including fentanyl. In fact, fentanyl was involved in 90% of all deaths involving opioids.
A dose as small as three grains of rice can be lethal making fentanyl-laced drugs even more concerning.
"Unfortunately counterfeit drugs containing fentanyl are becoming the norm," Dr. Urtzan said. "The pills containing the substance are cut with fentanyl or aren't advertised by sellers to the consumer as containing fentanyl. For example, a pill may be sold as one thing and have trace amounts of fentanyl which can have devastating impacts."
MDH continues to push resources like fentanyl testing strips and the Nalaxone finder to help prevent overdoses.
"When you take a 50,000 foot view, roughly one overdose in the U.S. results in a death every five minutes. That is a 15 percent increase from the previous record set in 2020. Overdoses involving fentanyl have surpassed 71,000 upwards of 23 percent from the year before."
A path for help
When it comes to moving forward, Dr. Urtzan says more needs to be done to reach out to communities disproportionately impacted by the opioid crisis.
"That's why we're broadening our banners so we can reach people. From Europeans introducing alcohol to Native Americans as a tool of exploitation to anti-opioid campaigns that targeted immigrants in the late 19th century. Even now, with opioid manufacturers settling lawsuits, we need to really look at that and beyond."
Hope and a path to recovery can be just one phone call away. Dr. Urtzan says the myth that someone needs to reach rock bottom before getting treatment is one they continue to battle.
"You don't need to get arrested, get fired, or lose family and friends before deciding to change your life," added Urtzan. "It's important for us to all be compassionate and loving when having these conversations with loved ones. That includes using 'and' instead of 'but' in a conversation. Saying 'I love you, but I want you to get help' is very different than 'I love you and I want you to get help.'"
The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation can be found online or by calling 1-877-218-6475.
