Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

Red Lake Reservation gets funds to fight opioid epidemic

The Red Lake Band of Chippewa will battle a rural opioid epidemic with the help of almost $13 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The funds include almost $5 million to build a new chemical dependency treatment center on the reservation. The band will receive $2.8 million to construct a fire hall in Red Lake and another $2.2 million loan to construct a fire hall in Ponemah. A final $3 million direct loan will help the band expand its dialysis center.

Red Lake, located in northern Beltrami County, has been fighting a flood of illicit drugs and prescription narcotics abuse on the reservation.

The Red Lake Department of Public Safety earlier this year described its community as “infested with drug related activity similar to large and immensely populated communities.” Public safety officers made 140 drug arrests in 2015 alone.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 03/27/2024 08:31