Kanabec County Opioid Settlement
Kanabec County is expected to receive roughly $1.2 million over the next 18 years through a multi-state opioid settlement agreement. Public Health agencies have been named as the lead agency to oversee the management and disbursement of these funds across the state of Minnesota.
Public Health entities, like Kanabec County Community Health, have been designated as the Chief Strategist for those receiving these funds. To determine how funds will be allocated, we have established a committee comprised of public health staff, community members, elected officials, and other community leaders. The committee will oversee the distribution process and is committed to ensuring that settlement funds are spent on meaningful and needed programming.
The primary goal, in Kanabec County, is to provide funding opportunities to support local organizations and initiatives focused on opioid misuse and prevention.
Annually, Kanabec County Community Health provides a presentation and report of funding received and awarded.
- December 30, 2025 Annual Meeting Presentation
Learn more about the Opioid Settlement Agreement multi-district litigation (MDL).
The Principles for the Use of Funds from the Opioid Settlements
- Principle One: Spend Money to Save Lives
- Principle Two: Use Evidence to Guide Spending
- Principle Three: Invest in Youth Prevention
- Principle Four: Focus on Racial Equity
- Principle Five: Develop a Fair and Transparent Process for Deciding Where to Spend the Funding.
Learn more about each of these principles from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Opioid Funding Application
Kanabec County is accepting funding applications and are available to organizations that are supporting local initiatives focused on opioid abuse and misuse prevention. Organization interested in opioid funding must complete an application, budget and share any supporting documentation to be considered.
Completed applications are reviewed by the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. The committee then provides recommendations to the Kanabec County Board of Commissioners who review the committees recommendations and make the final decision to approve or deny funding proposals.
Deadline for Applications to be Submitted
Monday, December 21, 2026
Monday, March 27, 2027
Monday, June 21, 2027
Monday, September 20, 2027
Application, Budget Worksheet and Additional Information
Data
Drug overdose continues to affect the lives of all who live in Minnesota. In 2024, Minnesota saw a continued decline in overdose deaths. Synthetic opioids continue to dominate fatal overdoses, with decreases across all opioid categories. For every person who died from a drug overdose in 2024, there were nearly 15 individuals treated for nonfatal overdoses in Minnesota hospitals. From 2023 to 2024, hospital-treated nonfatal overdoses decreased across drug categories, with opioid overdoses reaching their lowest levels since 2018.
Hospital data reflects only overdoses that result in emergency department and inpatient care and do not include those treated by EMS without transport or reversed in the community with naloxone. Taken together, the decreases in fatal overdoses and hospital-treated nonfatal overdoses are substantial and consistent with the impact of prevention and harm reduction efforts.
The 2024 Data Report includes all overdose deaths that occurred in the state and all nonfatal overdoses treated in Minnesota hospitals.
The Minnesota Department of Health’s dashboard contains detailed information on overdose deaths, non-fatal opioid-related hospital visits, the number of opioid prescriptions dispensed, the prevalence of substance use disorder, and more.
Projects funded by Kanabec County Opioid Settlement Funds (as of 7/2026)
- Peer Support Recovery – Wellness in the Woods
- Kanabec County School Resource Officer Collaborative Partnership w/Mora Schools, Ogilvie Schools and Kanabec County Sheriff’s Office (2024-2025, 2025-2026)
- Better Together Coalition of Kanabec County
- Narcan Training
- Mora Schools Community and Student Presentation
- Ogilvie Community Education – 5th Quarter Events
- Ogilvie Elementary PBIS Incentives
- Ogilvie Schools Post Prom
- Ogilvie Schools Deep Portage Program
- Operation Community Connect Hygiene Bags
- Mora Schools RCD Program
- Ogilvie High School PBIS Incentives
- Backpacks with Narcan and Opioid Response Information (Kanabec County)
- East Central Drug Taskforce Equipment for Drug Interdiction
- Kanabec County K9 Protective Equipment
- Better Together Coalition of Kanabec County
- Wellness in the Woods, Peer Support Programming in Kanabec County Jail
- Ogilvie School, High School, Wisdom Retreat
- Kanabec County Community Health, Family Health – Community Baby Shower
- Mora and Ogilvie SRO Support
- Ogilvie Schools Biology Lab, Substance Use Genetics
- Mora Schools Activities Scholarships
For additional information, please contact:
Kathy Burski, Chief Strategist
kathy.burski@kanabeccountymn.gov
(320) 679-6330