Governor Walz Takes New Action to Combat Addiction, Opioid Epidemic

Press Release

Governor Tim Walz today signed Executive Order 22-07, launching a new interagency subcabinet and advisory council to combat the opioid and addiction epidemic in Minnesota. Governor Walz will appoint a new Addiction and Recovery Director to lead addiction and recovery work as well as direct the subcabinet and advisory council. The Addiction and Recovery Director will report to Governor Walz and work with the Office of Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan to be the administration's key point person for the state's efforts to address opioids, substance use, and addiction in Minnesota.

"Minnesotans across the state are struggling with opioids, substance use disorder, and addiction -- a crisis which has only worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Governor Walz. "Today I'm proud to announce a new leadership position to focus these efforts, and launch a new subcabinet and advisory council to help build on the work we're already doing to craft innovative solutions aimed at fighting addiction and saving lives in Minnesota."

"To prevent more tragic deaths and help people live full, healthy lives, we must do everything we can to both prevent addiction and provide effective treatment for all Minnesotans who need it," said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. "This new leadership role, the subcabinet, and the advisory council will work to address barriers for Minnesotans seeking treatment options and addiction-related services -- especially for Native communities and communities of color, who continue to be impacted disproportionately -- and identify effective, community based long-term solutions."

The Addiction and Recovery Director will break down silos and work across agencies to better target the state's role in addressing addiction, treatment, and recovery. The position will lead the subcabinet and the advisory council towards progress on measurable goals that track the state's efforts in combatting addiction. The Addiction and Recovery Director will establish and manage external partnerships and build relationships with communities, community leaders, and those who have direct experience with addiction to ensure that all voices of recovery are represented in the work of the subcabinet and advisory council.

Critical to the work of the Addiction and Recovery Director will be the new Opioids, Substance Use, and Addiction Subcabinet. The subcabinet will identify challenges and opportunities that exist across state government with accessing treatment options and addiction-related support and recovery services and develop recommendations to overcome these barriers. With input from Minnesotans across the state with lived and direct experiences, the subcabinet will work to develop policies and strategies to reduce barriers and gaps in service for Minnesotans seeking treatment from opioid or substance use and addiction, including Native Americans and African Americans. The subcabinet will also identify how Minnesota can better address addiction as a chronic disease, identify long-term recovery strategies, and recommend prevention efforts, including addressing underlying causes, public awareness, and education.

Coordination among state agencies, with input from the public, is vital to ensuring that resources are aligned to meet these challenges most effectively. The members of the subcabinet include the leaders of the Minnesota departments of Human Services, Health, Education, and Public Safety; Minnesota Management and Budget; the Office of Higher Education; and the Interagency Council on Homelessness. The Addiction and Recovery Director will chair the Subcabinet.

Executive Order 22-07 also establishes the Governor's Advisory Council on Opioids, Substance Use, and Addiction. The advisory council will be comprised of up to 15 members of the public appointed by the Governor -- including community leaders, individuals with direct experience with addiction, and individuals providing treatment services -- and will receive and provide public input related to the subcabinet's efforts.

An independent consultant will also be hired to conduct an independent review of the structure of the Department of Human Services, with an additional focus on addiction and treatment access, service delivery, and mental health. A similar independent review process began shortly before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and was placed on hold.

Minnesota has seen a significant increase in the number of opioid-related overdose deaths in the past 20 years. The Minnesota Department of Health reported 54 overdose deaths in 2000 and 678 in 2020, with nonfatal overdoses from synthetic opioids -- like fentanyl -- rising 86 percent from 2019 to 2020 in Minnesota. Minnesota's overdose mortality rates have steadily been increasing across all populations. This impact is seen across the state, for example in 2019, 15% of all treatment admissions were opioid related. These impacts are especially high among people of color and Indigenous people, leading to some of the worst racial disparities in drug overdose mortality in the nation. In Minnesota, Native Americans are seven times more likely and African Americans are twice as likely to die from opioid-related related overdoses as white people. Since 2000, nearly 5,400 Minnesotans have lost their lives due to opioids.

In 2019, Governor Walz signed the bipartisan Opiate Epidemic Response bill into law, which secures sustainable funding from prescribers, drug manufacturers and distributors to fight the opioid crisis. It also created the Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council to oversee the funding.

Minnesotans interested in serving on the Governor's Advisory Council on Opioids, Substance Use, and Addiction should visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's website . Interested individuals are encouraged to apply by April 28, 2022. Applicants are encouraged to include supporting materials, such as a resume, cover letter, or other materials detailing their relevant experiences.

Minnesotans interested in the Addiction and Recovery Director position should email a cover letter and resume to Recovery.Director@state.mn.us. Application materials are now due on April 29, 2022, and should be addressed to Governor Tim Walz. Applicants can contact Recovery.Director@state.mn.us or (651) 201-3400 with questions about the application process or to request reasonable accommodations.

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