Addiction In St. Paul
Located east of Minneapolis, St. Paul is the smaller of Minnesota’s Twin Cities. This close proximity is what earned the two cities their famous nickname, but it has also created a massive metropolitan area where drugs can flow unseen. With the rampant growth in our country’s opioid epidemic, St. Paul has been hit hard by the illegal sale and use of prescription and illicit drugs.
The Opioid Crisis In St. Paul
As of 2017, the opioid epidemic is at an all-time high in St. Paul. Located in Ramsey County, the area suffered 72 deaths from opioid overdoses in 2017, a jump from the previous year’s 62 and 2015’s 47 deaths. This steady climb is in line with most of the country.
Of the 62 deaths by opioid overdose in 2016, 25 (40% of them), were attributed to the presence of a single drug, while the remaining deceased were found with a mix of opioids. While a majority of states are dealing with prescription opioids, deaths from drugs like oxycodone were relatively low when compared to heroin and fentanyl, involved in 13 and 17 deaths respectively.
The Growing Fentanyl Epidemic In St. Paul
From 2015 to 2016, the number of deaths tied to fentanyl in St. Paul grew from 3 to 17, an increase of over 500%. While 6 of those deaths were from fentanyl alone, the other 11 were combined with other drugs including cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, methadone, and amphetamines. While expressing the increase in fentanyl as a percentage may seem like an exaggeration, the growth in fentanyl-related deaths is indicative of more dealers passing off fentanyl as other narcotics. Fentanyl is an incredibly potent, lethal drug and the dealing of it at all is dangerous for everyone involved. The dealers who are distributing fentanyl are completely aware that it could easily lead to someone’s death (especially if they are using it without their knowledge) and continue to sell it.
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St. Paul Addiction Statistics
62
deaths
St. Paul saw its highest number of opioid deaths in 2016, at 62. It is likely that this number will continue to grow unless more is done to prevent prescription drug abuse.
17
deaths
In 2016, 17 people died from fentanyl, a 500% increase from the previous year. There is no telling how rapidly this number can grow in the future.
22,218
admissions
2016 saw 22,218 admissions into addiction treatment programs in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, 5,527 of which involved opioids as the primary substance.
Other Drugs Present In St. Paul
It is rare today to see stimulants cause as many deaths as opioids. However, in St. Paul and Ramsey County, cocaine-related deaths are growing to match those of heroin. In 2016, cocaine was involved in 13 opioid overdose deaths and 8 deaths on its own. When combined with another 2 deaths involving cocaine and methamphetamines, cocaine was involved in 23 deaths total, nearly double the number of deaths from heroin.
While the number of cocaine-related deaths has risen, the number of deaths from methamphetamines continue to fall. Falling from 8 in 2015 to 5 the following year, it seems that methamphetamines are not as big of a concern for St. Paul than the opioid epidemic or even cocaine.
Looking For Help In St. Paul
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, the best way to ensure that you achieve and maintain sobriety is to attend rehab. Luckily, there are a number of excellent rehabs in the greater St. Paul area. Many treatment professionals also suggest that traveling to a remote location to attend rehab may result in successful outcomes. If you would like to find out more about what rehab options are available to you, don’t wait. Contact a treatment provider today.
