MANKATO — A survivor, treatment provider, and law enforcement officials will come together Tuesday in Mankato for an educational event on the opioid and fentanyl crisis.
The panel, an initiative of the Greater Mankato Area United Way’s Substance Use Disorder Advocacy Committee, is set for 5:30-7 p.m. in the Ellerbe Room at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
Speakers will go into the history of fentanyl in local communities, signs and symptoms of substance use disorder, personal stories and what resources are available to people in need.
The list of speakers includes:
• Katie Bergemann, an opioid survivor
• Matt DuRose, Mankato Department of Public Safety
• Tina Olson, Horizon Homes
• Kara Richardson, a former correctional officer
• Sheriff Jeff Wersal, Blue Earth County
South-central Minnesota has had numerous fatal overdoses linked to fentanyl in recent years, part of a statewide trend of rising cases. Some drug suppliers received prison sentences following court cases, while more cases against alleged suppliers are ongoing.
Tuesday’s event comes after an annual awareness and remembrance event in late August organized by the family of Travis Gustavson, 21, who died of fentanyl poisoning in Mankato in 2021.
Data from the Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force showed they were aware of 94 overdose incidents, 41 of which involved fentanyl, in their coverage region in 2023. Thirteen of the overdoses were fatal.