A Personal Reflection on Ethics, Growth, and Hard Lessons In 2019, Minnesota faced a mounting public health crisis. Substance use was rising, overdose deaths were climbing, and the state’s treatment systems were overwhelmed. Traditional healthcare struggled to keep up. Amid this chaos, one solution began gaining momentum: Peer recovery support offering guidance and encouragement from …
The federal government’s decision to rescind up to $27.5 million in critical behavioral health funding from Minnesota is not just short-sighted — it’s dangerous. This action threatens to dismantle essential mental health and substance use disorder services that thousands of Minnesotans rely on every day. On March 25, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services …
When we think about gambling, we often picture seasoned adults at casino blackjack tables or perhaps cheering on horses at the track. However, an alarming trend is emerging, as young people are becoming increasingly at risk of developing gambling problems. The intersection of technology, the normalization of gambling in the media, and peer pressure are …
Secure, stable housing is more than just a roof over one’s head — it is the foundation upon which health, safety, and long-term success are built. Without access to stable housing, individuals struggling with substance use disorders face additional barriers to healing, reintegrating, and thriving in their communities. At the Minnesota Department of Human Services …
Minnesota is facing several complex issues that affect Minnesotans’ ability to get timely, quality, and culturally relevant behavioral health services. Addressing those issues with compassion is the top priority of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). Now, for the first time in department history, there is an entire administration dedicated solely to behavioral health. …
Recovery from substance use disorders is an incredibly challenging journey, but it’s also one of the most rewarding paths a person can take. Every individual in recovery deserves to be celebrated, no matter what their recovery looks like or how they define it. This September, during Recovery Month, the Minnesota Department of Human Services is …
The impacts of problem gambling can be devastating. And the effects of a gambling disorder are not only economic – it can lead to damaged relationships and high rates of substance abuse, depression, and suicide. In fact, studies show problem gambling has the highest rate of suicide of any addiction. That’s why it’s essential for …
In many cases, substance use disorder is a disease suffered in isolation, as people often avoid treatment or health care due to stigma and other barriers. Preventing overdoses and providing paths to recovery requires resources – but perhaps the most important resource is human connection. This year, the Minnesota Legislature authorized the creation of Safe …
The Minnesota Legislature just had one of its most impactful sessions in memory, with a historic surplus leading to a wide variety of investments that will improve lives across the state. Among those investments is funding that will combat addiction through a variety of prevention, harm-reduction, and treatment-related initiatives. At the Minnesota Department of Human …
About 22% of Minnesotans, regardless of their own participation in gambling, have been negatively affected by the gambling behaviors of others. Problem gambling is not simply a bad habit: It’s an addiction that isolates people and leaves them feeling despondent and hopeless. Problem gambling affects families and communities through unemployment, loss of housing, and more. …
