# 205

In April, 2016, the recording artist Prince OD’d on Fentanyl and drew attention to Minnesota as a blip on the screen. In 2020, the Toxicology report issued following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, raised the Fentanyl issue again in National coverage.

Today, though incomplete, I am publishing the ten year Fentanyl death statistics, produced from AI as the death-from-Fentanyl statistics compiled by the Minnesota Health Department:

Based on reports from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and state officials, Minnesota experienced a significant surge in fentanyl-related overdose deaths between 2019 and 2022, followed by a decline in 2023 and a sharper decrease in 2024

. While 2024 showed marked progress, preliminary 2025 data suggests a stabilization of these numbers rather than a continued steep decline. 

Fentanyl-Related Deaths in Minnesota (2016–2025)

• 2016–2018: Deaths involving synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) were rising but at much lower levels compared to the following decade.
• 2019–2020: The number of deaths began to rise significantly. By 2019, 288 of the 298 synthetic opioid deaths involved fentanyl.
• 2021: Fentanyl drove a record number of overdose deaths, with 1,286 total overdose deaths reported.
• 2022: Opioid-involved overdose deaths increased 51% from 2020, with over 70% of fatal overdoses involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
• 2023: Preliminary data showed a slight decrease in overall overdose deaths, but synthetic opioid deaths remained high, with 892 deaths.
• 2024: A 26% decline in total drug overdose deaths occurred (994 deaths), with a 35% decline in synthetic opioid deaths (down from 942 to 610).
• 2025: As of late 2025, early data indicated that overdose deaths were stalling, showing similar numbers to the first half of 2024, representing a pause in the downward trend. 

Key Trends and Demographics

• Disproportionate Impact: In 2024, American Indians were seven times more likely to die from a drug overdose, and African Americans were three times more likely to die from a drug overdose than white Minnesotans.
• Rise in Greater Minnesota: While metro counties were hit hard, 2021 saw a significant increase in deaths in Greater Minnesota. However, 2024 data showed a 31% decrease in Greater Minnesota compared to a 23% drop in the metro.
• Prevalence: Fentanyl is now the leading cause of fatal overdoses in the state, frequently mixed with other substances.