Prioritizing Health and Well-Being Across Meeker, McLeod, and Sibley Counties
Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) misuse refers to the excessive use of these substances in a manner that is harmful to health and well-being. ATOD misuse has been and continues to be a top priority across Meeker, McLeod, and Sibley (MMS) Counties.
Alcohol
Alcohol is the most widely used drug in Minnesota. Excessive alcohol consumption contributes to a number of negative consequences, including unintentional injuries, violent acts, chronic diseases, and unintended or unhealthy pregnancies.
Opioids
Opioids are powerful drugs that carry a high risk of addiction and overdose. Opioids are a class of drugs that include powerful prescription pain relievers as well as illegal drugs. Examples include oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, fentanyl, and heroin.
Cannabis
Early cannabis use can cause physical brain changes that permanently harm memory, learning, and attention. Cannabis use in adolescence or early adulthood can have a serious impact on a teen’s life, including a decline in school performance, increased risk of mental health issues, impaired driving, and potential for addiction. Community stakeholders have been anecdotally hearing and sharing with public staff that marijuana use is an increasing problem in our area.
Tobacco
Smoking rates have improved in recent years for both adults and youth. Between 2014 and 2018, the percentage of current smokers among adults decreased by over three percent and remained lower than the overall rate for Minnesota adults, which was 15.1% in 2018 compared to 11.2% in MMS. Likewise, any use of tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes, among adults decreased by 7.0% from 2014 to 2018. Similarly, among Sibley County students, the percentage of 8th, 9th, and 11th graders who reported past 30-day cigarette use dropped from 11.8% in 2016 to 9.8% in 2019.
