ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Aug. 22 -- Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minnesota, issued the following proclamation:

WHEREAS: Drug overdose impacts the lives of countless people in Minnesota and their and communities, with fentanyl - a synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin - driving an overdose crisis that has devastated communities across the state; and

WHEREAS: Stigma acts as a significant barrier to public health approaches to overdose prevention and recovery; and