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FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (KMSP) - The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office has a new booth at the Minnesota State Fair to create outreach in an effort to fight the opioid crisis.
Officials are giving out free pouches that allow people to dispose of their old medications safely.
Sheriff Rich Stanek said it's a crucial conversation after 175-opioid related deaths in the county last year.
“That's a lot of people and I think and we can do much better,” said Sheriff Stanek. “So a little public education, a little fun to go along with it, give them some options, whether it's Narcan which is an opiate antidote reversal drug, or these drug disposal pouches. These are things people can do themselves in their own homes, and we think that's really important.”
The pouches are easy to use - just open the pouch, put in your old meds, add water, give it a little shake and dump it in the trash.