Bi-partisan legislators responding positively to students’ life-saving priority
This column originally was published during March, 2025 in ABC Newspapers, the MilleLacs Messenger, Press&News, SunCurrent, Sun Post , Sun Sailor, SunThisWeek Laker Pioneer, Monticello Times, Elk River Star News, Forest Lake Times, Waconia Patriot, and other papers that are part of the APG of East Central Minnesota newspaper group
Bi-partisan legislators responding positively to students’ life-saving priority
Amid sometimes contentious news about political battles, here’s good news. Both Republican and DFL state legislators are responding positively to the top priority of an estimated group of 65 young Minnesotans, ages 15-24. They met and developed legislative recommendations late last year.
The students, from suburban, urban, and Greater Minnesota communities offered several suggestions – with the top priority being instruction in how to prevent, recognize and respond to someone experiencing a drug overdose.
At a March 19 Minnesota House Educational Policy Committee meeting, a multi-generational team of students and a medical doctor explained the rationale for “House File 2023” which adds eight clarifying words to existing legislation.
Tom Kottke, who has practiced medicine in Minnesota for more than 40 years at HealthPartners and the University of Minnesota, told legislators that physicians use the term “accidental poisoning for death by overdose.” He pointed out that in Minnesota, in recent years, the rate of accidental poisoning has increased fortyfold and the death rate of Minnesotans ages 20-34 has increased eightfold.
Kottke concluded, “It shouldn’t be this way. These are people in the prime of life. They should be in the labor force, not in the ground.”
Tom Kottke, M.D. and Rep West
Sofia Templos, a senior at District 196’s School of Environmental Studies in Apple Valley, gave personal examples of the devastation that the statistics represent.
Rep West & Sofia Templos
Rep. Robert Bierman (DFL-Apple Valley) and bill co-author, praised her courage in sharing this information.
Dexter Paasch, a student at Harding High School in St. Paul and member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, cited both state statistics and people he’s known who suffered overdoses. He shared Minnesota Department of Health statistics showing the number of opioid overdose deaths in Minnesota increased from 323 in 2014 to more than 1,000 in 2022 and 2023, respectively. He also noted that while this is a statewide problem involving Minnesotans of all backgrounds, quoting the MDH, “In 2021, American Indian Minnesotans were 10 times as likely and Black Minnesotans were three times as likely to die from a drug overdose as white Minnesotans.”
Rep West & Dexter Paasch
I checked with MDH when preparing this column. Spokesperson Scott Smith shared updated, provisional statistics showing that the number of overdose deaths in Minnesota increased from January 2024 to January 2025.
Rep. Nolan West, a Republican from Blaine, is the bill’s chief author in the Minnesota House. He opened the testimony explaining that he’d heard from students and agreed the change “would save lives (and) this a priority.”
Rep. Dave Baker (R-Willmar) and another bill co-author had a family member die of an overdose.
Bill co-author Rep. Matt Norris (DFL-Blaine) told me, “This is a great example of students carefully identifying something we – legislators – can do, and giving us practical, timely advice.”
Before the hearing, students met with Rep. Bianca Virnig (DFL-Eagan) and Rep. Josiah Hill (DFL-Stillwater). Both praised the students (Hill called them “awesome”) for bringing their research to the Capitol.
Khalique Rogers, Jaiden Leary, Sofia Templos, Dexter Paasch, Maitreya Reeder, Rep. Virnig & Dr.Kottke
In the Senate, the chief author of the comparable bill is Sen. Alice Mann (DFL-Edina). Her co-authors include Sen. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka); Sen. Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley), and Sen. John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin).
For almost two years, Jaiden Leary, a senior at St. Louis Park High School, has helped the Catalyst for Systems Change, where I work, convene students, help them identify priorities, research and share recommendations with legislators.
Leary told me, “We’re encouraged that legislators are listening.”
There are not yet final decisions on this and other student priorities. However, the young people’s constructive efforts, and the bipartisan positive responses, represent Minnesota at its best.
Joe Nathan, PhD, has been a Minnesota public school educator, researcher and PTA president. He founded and was director of the Center for School Change, now known as the Catalyst for Systems Change. Reactions welcome, joe@centerforschoolchange.org