Join us for a lecture on opioid epidemic response in Minnesota on April 16. Participants will learn about the Opioid Dashboard, a one-stop shop for opioid-related data and information. Launched by the Minnesota Department of Health in 2017, the Opioid Dashboard serves as a one-stop shop for sharing statewide efforts, what’s working, and data counties and others can use to spot trends, benchmark efforts, and take action. The primary audience for the Opioid Dashboard is anyone working on substance use disorder and/or overdose prevention (e.g., state agencies, health boards, prevention coordinators, local public health) and is available to the general public.

Presented by MDH’s Kate Erickson, participants will learn about:

• Overdose death trends, including the race rate disparity in drug overdose death
• Nonfatal overdose, including naloxone—the medication that temporarily blocks the effects of opioids during an opioid overdose emergency
• Use, misuse, and substance use disorder, including diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder and treatment access
• Prescribing practices, including county-level data on opioid prescribing rates
• Supply, diversion, and harm reduction, including the statewide locator for safe disposal drop box locations
• Co-occurring conditions, including an overview of syringe service programs
• Social determinants of health, including an overview of the Opioid Epidemic Response: Employer Toolkit

This lecture is designed for public health practitioners, health care providers, pharmacies, local public health organizations, social service providers, law enforcement, poison control, Indian Health Services, advocacy organizations and the general public. SPH alumni and friends of SPH are especially encouraged to attend. This lecture will also be livestreamed and available after the lecture.

Kate Erickson works with the Minnesota Department of Health. As the Opioid Overdose Prevention Director, Erickson launched the Opioid Dashboard, a one-stop shop for opioid-related data and information. Currently, Erickson is working on a temporary project with MDH related to injection drug use, infectious disease, and overdose response. Prior to working at the MDH, Erickson worked in community health centers (FQHCs) with an accountable care organization (ACO) as the Integrated Care Program Manager, running programs in care coordination, chemical health, advocacy services, SBIRT (screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment) implementation, and behavioral health integration. Erickson is passionate about trauma-informed care and health equity. Erickson’s work includes improving chronic pain management and opioid prescribing guidelines, motivational interviewing training, and launching clinic-based buprenorphine (suboxone, medication assisted treatment, MAT) programs. Erickson brings over 15 years of experience in community organizing, strategic planning, program development, group facilitation, staff supervision, advocacy, and teaching.

This lecture is part of our 2019 Public Health Lecture Series and supports the 2019 SPH Alumni Society Board President’s Platform that aims to raise awareness and make a difference in curtailing the public health impact of the opioid crisis.