Updated Drug and Alcohol Statistics for Minnesota

Substance use patterns in Minnesota have changed considerably over the past two decades, reflecting a complex tapestry of shifting drug markets, rising opioid-related harms, and persistent alcohol misuse. Understanding these trends requires examining critical data on overdose rates, demographic disparities, and broader treatment patterns across the state.

Below is an in-depth statistical overview of how opioids, alcohol, stimulants, and other drugs have impacted Minnesota, including rising synthetic opioid fatalities, disparities in overdose rates by race and geography, and ongoing alcohol-related harm. These numbers are intended to serve as a clear, data-driven reference for researchers, journalists, public health officials, and others seeking up-to-date statistics.

Key Data Highlights

• Opioid-Involved Deaths Surged 681% between 2000 and 2017.
• 92% of opioid-related overdose deaths in 2022 involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
• 60.5% of Minnesota adults reported past-month alcohol use in 2022.
• Hospital-treated nonfatal overdoses involving methamphetamine and cocaine decreased 20% from 2021 to 2022.

The following sections break down Minnesota’s latest drug and alcohol statistics by major substance category, demographic factors, and regional variations. Each section provides data points to illustrate core trends and time-specific changes.

Opioids: Evolving Crisis and Key Data

Opioids remain one of Minnesota’s most pressing public health challenges, driven largely by the influx of synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

• Opioid-involved deaths rose by 681% from 2000 to 2017.
• Between 2016 and 2017, the annual increase in opioid-related fatalities was 7%.
• By 2022, 92% of opioid-related overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
• Preliminary 2023 data indicates an 8% decline in overall overdose mortality, yet nonfatal fentanyl-involved overdoses increased by 11%.
• American Indian residents represent 1.5% of the state population yet account for 8% of recorded overdose deaths.

These figures underscore fentanyl’s rising impact, as well as the pronounced racial disparities in overdose outcomes. The table below illustrates selected opioid-related data by year.

While overall deaths may be trending down slightly, continued vigilance is needed to address rising nonfatal overdoses involving synthetic opioids.

Sponsored

Online Therapy Can Help

Over 3 million people use BetterHelp. Their services are:

• Professional and effective
• Affordable and convenient
• Personalized and discreet
• Easy to start

Find a Therapist

Answer a few questions to get started

Alcohol: Persistent Impact and Key Trends

Alcohol continues to contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in Minnesota, even amid the opioid crisis.

• 1,100 deaths were attributed to excessive alcohol use in 2021, the highest number on record.
• Alcohol remains the most common substance in treatment admissions, though its share decreased from 40.9% in 2015 to 37% in 2018.
• Around 60.5% of adults reported past-month drinking in 2022, exceeding some national averages.
• In 2019, 16.5% of 9th and 11th graders reported using alcohol in the past month.
• The binge drinking rate in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area reached about 28.1% in recent years, exceeding nationwide rates.

Though commonly consumed, alcohol-related fatalities and hospitalizations remain a substantial concern. Below is a snapshot of selected alcohol indicators over the past few years.

Alcohol-related issues continue to affect both urban and rural communities statewide, with persistent heavy drinking patterns evident in younger adult segments.

Sponsored

Get Professional Help

BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor.

Find a Therapist

Answer a few questions to get started

Stimulants and Methamphetamine: Fluctuating Patterns

While opioids and alcohol drive many of the headlines, stimulants—particularly methamphetamine—remain a significant concern in Minnesota.

• Methamphetamine treatment admissions fell between 2009 and 2016 but rebounded substantially in subsequent years.
• The Midwest region has seen expanded meth production in rural areas, often tied to trafficking organizations.
• Nonfatal overdoses involving methamphetamine and cocaine decreased 20% from 2021 to 2022, although overall concerns remain high.
• Meth production and distribution networks extend into bordering states such as Wisconsin and North Dakota.

Though there have been short-term fluctuations, meth continues to claim a prominent position in drug treatment statistics and law enforcement encounters.

The interplay between opioids and stimulants in poly-substance use patterns indicates that multiple drug classes require consistent monitoring.

Marijuana and Other Notable Trends

Marijuana remains a frequently used substance, particularly among younger adults, although its share in treatment admissions has fallen in recent years.

• Past-year marijuana use among adults aged 18–25 reached 45% in 2022.
• Treatment admissions for marijuana decreased from 15.6% in 2015 to 13.2% in 2018.
• Heroin-related overdose deaths declined by 49% from 2021 to 2022, largely replaced by synthetic opioids.
• Urban counties averaged 28.6 overdose deaths per 100,000 in 2020, while rural counties averaged 26.2 during the same period.

Although cannabis remains prevalent, the emergence of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids appears to have reshaped certain segments of the illicit market, including reduced prevalence of heroin.

Despite marijuana’s popularity, shifting priorities in treatment and law enforcement reflect the urgency of addressing opioid and meth-related harm.

Sponsored

Phone, Video, or Live-Chat Support

BetterHelp provides therapy in a way that works for YOU. Fill out the questionnaire, get matched, begin therapy.

Get Started

Answer a few questions to get started

Demographic and Geographic Perspectives

Patterns of drug and alcohol use often vary by location, race, and ethnicity. Minnesota’s data illustrate significant differences in overdose rates across these categories.

• African American overdose rates rose from 24.0 to 27.6 per 100,000 between 2013 and 2018.
• American Indian communities consistently have disproportionately high overdose mortality, comprising 8% of overdose deaths despite being 1.5% of the population.
• The difference between urban (28.6 per 100,000) and rural (26.2 per 100,000) overdose rates in 2020 was moderate, but still significant.
• Greater Minnesota saw a 21% decrease in overdose deaths from 2022 to 2023, compared to only 1% in the metro.

These disparities highlight the need to understand how social and economic variables affect substance use outcomes across Minnesota’s diverse regions.

Whether in urban centers or rural locales, targeted strategies continue to evolve to address the heterogeneous nature of substance use in the state.

National and Regional Comparisons

Though Minnesota ranks lower than many states in certain drug use metrics, the state’s opioid mortality rates and binge drinking prevalence remain high relative to national numbers.

• In 2022, the state’s synthetic opioid death rate in urban areas (18.3 per 100,000) exceeded the U.S. average.
• Nationally, drug overdose deaths dropped about 4% from 2022 to 2023, while Minnesota’s declined by 8%.
• Minnesota’s binge drinking rate (28.1% in the metro) is significantly higher than many other major metropolitan regions.
• Methamphetamine production in the Midwest, driven by trafficking organizations, has spread across state borders, connecting Minnesota with Wisconsin, North Dakota, and beyond.

These differences underscore a mixed picture: the state records less overall drug use compared to others in some analyses, yet grapples with higher-than-average overdose rates in specific categories.

Key Statistics Summary

• Overdose deaths in Minnesota declined by 8% between 2022 and 2023, outperforming the 4% national decline.
• American Indians constitute 1.5% of the state population yet account for 8% of overdose fatalities.
• In 2022, 92% of opioid-related deaths involved fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
• Alcohol use contributed to over 1,100 deaths in 2021, the highest annual total ever recorded.
• Methamphetamine admissions have rebounded since 2016, reflecting changing drug use patterns statewide.

Minnesota’s drug and alcohol landscape encompasses longstanding challenges with alcohol, alarming shifts in opioid mortality, and evolving concerns around stimulants. These data trends provide a foundation for understanding the scope and scale of substance use in the state.

Sponsored

Get matched with an affordable mental health counselor

Find a Therapist

Answer a few questions to get started