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   Cass County Opioid Settlement Fund Committee of the Board is providing the third in a four-part series on opioids to increase the community’s awareness including facts about fentanyl; opioid overdose and naloxone; opioid prevention and response; and opioid treatment and recovery in recognition of National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day on August 21, 2024, and International Overdose Awareness Day “Together we can” on August 31st, 2024.

   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 such as 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 parent, schools, workplaces, and 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 Avenue West, Walker; Cass Lake City Hall/Law Enforcement Center 330 2nd Street NW, Cass Lake; Lake Shore City Hall/Law Enforcement Center 8583 Interlachen Road, Lake Shore; and Pine River City Hall/Law Enforcement Center 200 Front Street North, Pine River.  

   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 of the Board is working with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe to partner to prioritize the prevention strategies 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 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 service for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders is available by 1-800-662-HELP (4357).  

   Together we can make a difference when we all stand together in our community joining the  Cass County Opioid Settlement Fund Committee public meetings that are normally held on the 4th Tuesday of the month from 10:00 am to 11:00 am and more information can be found at www.casscountymn.gov or by contacting  [email protected] or by phone 218-547-6833. For additional resources about opioids visit www.health.state.mn.us/communities/opioids.

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