Minneapolis warns of spike in overdose deaths after 3 people die in 1 day

Three people died after three separate drug overdose incidents on Thursday in Minneapolis, according to a news release from the city.

The deaths are part of a recent surge in overdose response calls that mirrors statewide trends in the past few years.

Minneapolis says it saw 55 overdoses in the first week of October 2022, which is about 20% higher than its weekly average of overdose calls in 2021. According to numbers provided by the city, emergency personnel responded to roughly 44 overdoses per week last year.

“The upsurge in overdoses is a public health and safety concern,” the news release noted Friday.

As of Friday, Minneapolis reports 2,113 overdoses in 2022. City data shows Minneapolis has had 108 overdose deaths through August 2022.

The city had 2,283 total overdoses and in 197 overdose deaths in 2021.