Minneapolis health department reports declines in fatal overdoses, expands Narcan vending, mobile medical unit and syringe services
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Summary
Deputy Commissioner Heidi Ritchie told the committee the city saw a preliminary 26% decline in fatal opioid-related overdoses in 2024 and described Narcan vending machines, a mobile medical unit, syringe drop boxes, the First Step MOUD program and youth prevention curriculum BRAINWAVES.
Deputy Commissioner Heidi Ritchie presented Minneapolis's current opioid-response efforts to the Public Health and Safety Committee on Nov. 12.
Ritchie said preliminary data show a 26% decrease in fatal opioid-involved overdoses in Minneapolis in 2024 (Minnesota overall saw a 32% decrease from 2023), while noting racial disparities persist: rates remain higher for Black and American Indian residents compared with white residents and the American Indian rate had not declined.
The department described multiple harm-reduction and treatment initiatives: three Narcan vending machines installed at fire stations (Station 29 in July 2024; Station 14 in May 2025; Station 5 recently near 27th & Bloomington Avenue) that have dispensed roughly 560 boxes through October; a syringe-abatement program that combines regular sweeps, 26 existing syringe drop boxes with 15 more planned in Q1 2026 and a contracted pick-up partner (Mother's Love Initiative) responding to 311 requests with a 24-hour service-level target; and a Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) launched Aug. 29 that has deployed 33 times, interacted with more than 1,300 residents, provided 178 medical encounters and distributed about 336 boxes of Narcan via outreach.
Ritchie also highlighted the First Step rapid-access program that provides same-day access to medications for opioid use disorder, including take-home starter packs and pilot use of the long-acting injectable buprenorphine Brixadi through ED and clinic partnerships with M Health Fairview; the city is mapping pharmacy stocking and expanding navigator training and community partnerships to improve low-barrier access.
On prevention, the city is piloting a neuroscience-based school curriculum called BRAINWAVES with the University of Minnesota and intends to scale it with regional partners; Ritchie also outlined a trafficking-awareness campaign launched in January 2025 that will be relaunched in January 2026 for National Trafficking Awareness Month.
Council members praised the MMU and encouraged staff to identify ways for neighborhood groups to provide input on campaign placement; Ritchie offered to coordinate community feedback and said staff will return with additional deployment and campaign details.
