In 2019, the Community Forum series provided an opportunity to bring together community members in collaboration with healthcare professionals, law enforcement, social services, and individuals in recovery to raise awareness for substance use disorders, provide education, dispel stigma, and share a message of hope.
Deer River
Who: University of Minnesota Extension; University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Duluth; Itasca County Public Health; Deer River community members. A meal was provided and catered by Aitkin Public Schools.
Where: Deer River School
Key takeaway: Participants shared that learning about opioid use as a disease helped them understand how to break the stigma of recovery.
- Strengths in the community include the sobriety court and sober community meetings as well as the strong relationships between healthcare and mental health providers.
- Community members asked for more education efforts of substance use disorders, particularly programs that explored the effects and signs of addiction and the role of community in sobriety.
- A few community members wanted to see a greater connection between addiction and mental health.
- Most people said they had heard of the forum through word-of-mouth.
Read the full report from Deer River.
Aitkin
Who: University of Minnesota Extension; University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Duluth; Aitkin County Public Health; Aitkin community members.
Where: Aitkin High School.
When: May 2019
Key takeaway: Participants shared that learning about opioid use as a disease helped them understand how to break the stigma of recovery.
- Strengths in the community include the sobriety court and sober community meetings as well as the strong relationships between healthcare and mental health providers.
- Community members asked for more education efforts of substance use disorders, particularly programs that explored the effects and signs of addiction and the role of community in sobriety.
- A few community members wanted to see a greater connection between addiction and mental health.
- Most people said they had heard of the forum through word-of-mouth.
Read the full report from Aitkin.
Grand Rapids
Who: University of Minnesota Extension; University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Duluth; Itasca County Public Health; Grand Rapids community members.
Where: The Blandin Foundation
When: April 2019
Key takeaway: Participants shared that the stories from those in recovery and those working with opioid abuse prevention were the most important.
- Strengths in the community include the sobriety court and sober community meetings as well as the strong relationships between healthcare and mental health providers.
- Community members asked for more education efforts of substance use disorders, particularly programs that explored the effects and signs of addiction and the role of community in sobriety.
- A few community members wanted to see a greater connection between addiction and mental health.
- Most people said they had heard of the forum through word-of-mouth.
Read the full report from Grand Rapids.
Keewatin
Who: University of Minnesota Extension; University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Duluth; Itasca County Public Health; Keewatin community members.
Where: Keewatin Community Center
When: April 2019
Key takeaway: Participants shared that the stories from those in recovery and those working with opioid abuse prevention were the most important.
- Strengths in the community include the sobriety court and sober community meetings as well as the strong relationships between healthcare and mental health providers.
- Community members asked for more education efforts of substance use disorders, particularly programs that explored the effects and signs of addiction and the role of community in sobriety.
- A few community members wanted to see a greater connection between addiction and mental health.
- Most people said they had heard of the forum through word-of-mouth.
Read the full report from Keewatin.
Malmo
Who: University of Minnesota Extension; University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Duluth; Aitkin County Public Health; Malmo community members.
Where: Malmo Community Center
When: May 2019
Key takeaway: Participants shared that the stories from those in recovery and those working with opioid abuse prevention were the most important.
- Strengths in the community include the sobriety court and sober community meetings as well as the strong relationships between healthcare and mental health providers.
- Community members asked for more education efforts of substance use disorders, particularly programs that explored the effects and signs of addiction and the role of community in sobriety.
- A few community members wanted to see a greater connection between addiction and mental health.
- Most people said they had heard of the forum through word-of-mouth.
Read the full report from Malmo.
McGregor
Who: University of Minnesota Extension; University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Duluth; Aitkin County Public Health; McGregor community members.
Where: McGregor School
When: April 2019
Key takeaway: Participants shared that the stories from those in recovery and those working with opioid abuse prevention were the most important.
- Strengths in the community include the sobriety court and sober community meetings as well as the strong relationships between healthcare and mental health providers.
- Community members asked for more education efforts of substance use disorders, particularly programs that explored the effects and signs of addiction and the role of community in sobriety.
- A few community members wanted to see a greater connection between addiction and mental health.
- Most people said they had heard of the forum through word-of-mouth.
Read the full report from McGregor.