Raising awareness to help save lives

Prescription opioid painkillers can be appropriate in some circumstances, but opioid painkiller abuse is a growing problem in the State of Minnesota and nationally. The United States has less than 5% of the world’s population but uses 99% of the world’s hydrocodone and about 75% of its oxycodone. People who abuse prescription painkillers are 40 times more likely to abuse heroin.

The Office of the Minnesota Attorney General and the Anoka County Attorney’s Office are committed to helping prevent the abuse of prescription painkillers in Minnesota. Through the DOSE OF REALITY: Prevent Prescription Painkiller Abuse in Minnesota Public Awareness, Education, and Prevention Effort, we are looking to help save lives by preventing prescription painkiller addiction.

The goals of DOSE OF REALITY are to:

• Raise awareness of prescription painkiller abuse in Minnesota, especially among those at highest risk of abuse—young people ages 12-25
• Communicate the risks and dangers of improper use, storage, and disposal of prescription painkillers
• Get Minnesota residents to take action by:
  • Using prescriptions only as directed
  • Storing prescription painkillers safely and securely
  • Disposing of unwanted and unused prescription painkillers properly and safely