Opioid Task Force Looking to Tap Community Support

Opioid-related deaths have increased significantly over the past several years throughout the state, especially within the metro area. As a result, the city of Minneapolis is looking to develop a more community-centered approach to addressing the city's opioid crisis. A city task force, which includes experts from the University of Minnesota, is in the midst of drafting policies that'll be funded by the city's 2020 budget.

Dr. Ryan Kelly, Department of Medicine, is on the Community Systems Integration subcommittee which aims to remove barriers that make it more difficult for those suffering from addiction to seek care in their community.

“It’s been a pretty rewarding experience as far as really helping people, kind of the most underserved of all people,” Dr. Kelly told the Minnesota Daily.

Through his time helping patients at an opioid treatment clinic, he has learned the need for medical and harm reduction intervention he said.