About Stop Opioids Stearns

Community Care Meets Prevention and Support

You deserve a community that supports you through life's most difficult challenges. Stop Opioids Stearns exists to provide compassionate resources, education, and hope to individuals affected by the opioid crisis across Stearns County.


Campaign work is guided by a simple belief: no one should face addiction alone. We're here to help you find the support you need when you need it most.


Through honest conversation, trusted resources, and community collaboration, we're building a network of care that extends throughout Albany, Avon, Belgrade, Brooten, Cold Spring, Collegeville, and beyond.


Stop Opioids Stearns is helping families start the conversation and find real support.

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The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office joined the historic $26 billion multi-state settlement agreements with pharmaceutical distributors and opioid manufacturers in 2021. This settlement will bring more than $300 million to Minnesota counties and cities.


  • In 2022, settlements were reached with additional manufacturers as well as pharmacy chains
  • The settlement payments will occur over the next 10-18 years
  • Payments to counties in Minnesota started in 2023
  • To learn more details about the settlement, visit Fighting the Opioid Epidemic in Minnesota


Stearns County will be receiving approximately $9,000,000 in settlement funds over the next 18 years from the nationwide opioid settlements with pharmaceutical distributors. These funds will be designated for prevention, reducing harm, and providing recovery resources for those impacted by opioid use.


Today:

The Stearns County Opioid Community Advisory Committee's purpose will be to prioritize the funding of community initiatives that work on mitigating the impact of opioids in Stearns County and will be responsible for preparing budget recommendations for the County Board on the use of funding as part of the annual budget process.


Use of funding recommendations will focus on the following three pillars:


  • Harm Reduction
  • Prevention
  • Treatment/Recovery


The County Board of Commissioners will review and approve work plans, budget spending, and services. To ensure the opioid settlement dollars are used most effectively, decisions will be made using the following principles:


  • Prioritize community-driven needs
  • Use evidence-based practices to guide spending
  • Invest in youth prevention
  • Focus on disparately impacted communities
  • Develop a fair, transparent criteria for funding decisions


Performance Measures will be established to track the effectiveness of County efforts.


Community members are welcome to email suggested topics for funding to Stearns County. These will be considered and discussed by the Opioid Community Advisory Committee.

Founded on Compassion and Connected to Central Minnesota

This initiative was created to fill a critical gap in our communities. We recognized that too many people were struggling in silence, unsure where to turn or how to ask for help. Stop Opioids Stearns is here to change that.


Stearns County is home to tight-knit towns where neighbors look out for one another. From the quiet streets of Avon to the lakeside communities around Cold Spring, we understand the values that define this region—family, faith, and resilience. We bring that same spirit to our mission every day.


We're proud to support residents throughout Albany, Belgrade, Holdingford, Collegeville, and beyond, offering a welcoming space where you can learn the facts, access prevention tools, and get help now.