(SAINT PAUL, MN) – Today a new coalition of local, state, and national organizations came together to address the opioid epidemic in Minnesota. The Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative (RALI) of Minnesota will work to address the challenges and needs of the state’s opioid crisis through a diverse partnership of groups, including the Minnesota REALTORS, JustUs Health and the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation, among others. Local groups like these will work together with national organizations to support programs that promote effective prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies.
"The opioid epidemic is going to take a comprehensive approach that employs multiple strategies to create population-level reductions to this problem," said General Arthur T. Dean, Chairman and CEO of CADCA. "CADCA has always focused on primary prevention and we hope our partnership with RALI Minnesota will be a model for other organizations and communities of how to not only enhance local prevention efforts, but also increase community awareness about the dangers of substance use and misuse. Together we can build safe and healthy drug-free communities."
While RALI Minnesota made its official launch today, it has been actively working with local partners for several months, hosting community forums on the opioid crisis and donating drug disposal kits. By partnering with a broad range of groups, RALI Minnesota aims to reach people in every part of the state with information about how to prevent and identify opioid misuse.
“We are pleased with the opportunity to work with RALI Minnesota. The resources the coalition has already provided have helped us engage community members in discussions and increase awareness about this crisis and to discuss the role they can play in preventing dependency,” said Ruth Meirick, Director, Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation. “No one group is going to solve this epidemic, and we are always looking for new ways to reach Minnesotans with important prevention information.”
In addition to providing disposal pouches throughout the state, RALI Minnesota will offer community grants to organizations dedicated to prevention and treatment of substance use disorders.
To learn more about RALI Minnesota, visit www.ralimn.org.
About RALI Minnesota: RALI Minnesota is an alliance of local, state, and national organizations working to elevate solutions to the state’s opioid crisis. Members include:
Addiction Policy Forum
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)
Hennepin County Sheriff Foundation
JustUs Health
Lakeville Public Safety Foundation
Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation
Minnesota REALTORS
Minnesota Rural Health Association
National Black Nurses Association
National Consumers League
National Grange
National Sheriffs’ Association
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
Veterans Against Drugs
Veterans Health Council
Vietnam Veterans of America