Duluth front-line workers see the COVID-19 divide across the community
Educators, first responders and others say the last year has been difficult for everyone, but those difficulties are not all equal. While some effects of the pandemic will last forever, various steps are being taken to help people in many different ways. Written By: Laura Butterbrodt | ×
Family physician Dr. C.W. Hall poses for a portrait Feb. 5 at Essentia Health in Duluth. (Tyler Schank / tschank@duluthnews.com)
DULUTH “I’m seeing a lot more elderly people calling 911 not just because they’re sick and they may need a transport to the hospital, but because they’re lonely, said Lisa Consie, a captain at Station 11 of the Duluth Fire Department. They’re not seeing their families anymore and they just want to talk.”
Duluth frontline workers see divide across community
People working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic share their perspectives and observations from the last year of service. Written By: Laura Butterbrodt | ×
Family physician Dr. C.W. Hall poses for a portrait Feb. 5 at Essentia Health in Duluth. (Tyler Schank / tschank@duluthnews.com)
“I’m seeing a lot more elderly people calling 911 not just because they’re sick and they may need a transport to the hospital, but because they’re lonely, said Lisa Consie, a captain at Station 11 of the Duluth Fire Department. They’re not seeing their families anymore and they just want to talk.”
DULUTH, MN (KDAL) – According to Duluth Police, the city saw the highest number of opioid related overdoses last year since tracking began in 2013.
There were 213 overdoses within the city limits in 2020 and 20 deaths. At least 64 people were saved by officers administering Naloxone.
Police are addressing the continuing opioid epidemic with a multifaceted approach.
The grant funded Lake Superior Diversion and Substance Use Response Team allows for an expanded focus to include methamphetamine, reduces delays in outreach and assessment and provides services to a growing caseload.
The Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force continues to remove drugs and illegal firearms from the streets and connects with the community to educate about the dangers of addiction.
Duluth Police Report Highest Number of Opioid Overdoses in 2020
The Duluth Police Department reported some sobering statistics related to opioid-related overdoses for 2020.
Duluth Police say that since they began tracking opioid-related overdoses in 2013, 2020 had the highest number of opioid-related overdoses with 213 total. They also report that, pending toxicology reports, 20 people have died in Duluth city limits due to opioids last year.
If we look back, 2019 had 174 overdoses and 106 in 2018, so comparing 2018 to 2020 the numbers have doubled. The Duluth Police have had some successes to report with the use of Naloxone, a medication used to block the effects of opioids, they say that they have saved 64 people using the drug in 2020, and since 2016 the use of the Naloxone have saved 188 people.