While recent state data offers hope, local advocates warn that the fight against the opioid epidemic is far from over—especially as Minnesota enters the winter and holiday season.
A new report from the Minnesota Department of Health shows opioid overdose deaths in Minnesota dropped for the third year in a row in 2025, falling to 671 deaths, down from a peak of 1,039 in 2022. However, drug overdose rates remain approximately 22% higher during the holidays compared to non-holiday periods, according to data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“It’s good news, but the number of dying and suffering are still too high,” said the Rev. Ed Treat, founder of The Center of Addiction & Faith. “I know that the biggest factor in this trend toward fewer deaths is due to the accessibility to naloxone.”
Through a partnership with Washington County’s Opioid Settlement Fund, The Center of Addiction & Faith will host a free public naloxone training session on Nov. 12 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater.
“I was a full-blown drug addict the first third of my life, then an ordained pastor for the second third,” Treat shared. “The problem is there is so much misunderstanding and stigma. We still treat this like a moral issue, even though it’s been clearly determined to be a medical issue.”
Treat is passionate about spreading awareness about addiction and making naloxone, a tool proven to prevent overdose deaths, widely accessible.
“In Washington County, it’s still happening. I’m always surprised talking to first responders. I asked one if they use it and he said they use it every week,” Treat said.
The training on Nov. 12 is open to anyone, and registration includes a free naloxone kit.
“People think naloxone is just for people in the business of helping people with addiction and recovery or first responders,” Treat explained. “The best is when someone has it on hand before first responders. That’s a critical window. Loved ones can save lives. If you have a grandson who has a problem, I would have it in my medicine cabinet and I’d have it in the glove box.”
Treat emphasized that no special medical training is necessary to step in during a life-threatening crisis, noting that naloxone carries no health risks and will not harm anyone if administered during a non-overdose emergency.
During the session, Treat will address how hidden addiction can be in local communities and why faith communities are uniquely positioned to intervene.
“You just never know when you’ll be in a situation where someone is hurting and you are someone who can save their lives,” Treat said. “We’re called to love our neighbors and one way to do that is to save their lives. We have a tool to do that and it costs nothing.”
Along with a free naloxone kit, participants in the Nov. 12 training session will receive fentanyl test strips, which can detect the presence of fentanyl in street drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and counterfeit prescription pills.
Treat hopes the event will help break down the barriers that prevent people from seeking help or preparing themselves to assist others.
“We live in a culture that wants us to appear healthy and fine, so we put on masks and no one knows what we’re struggling with,” Treat said.
To learn more and register for the free naloxone training on Nov. 12, go to: https://lnkd.in/gGp9A7RA
