THE FORGOTTEN EPEDEMIC IN THE SOMALI COMMUNITY
As the United States of America struggles with Covid-19 (C-19) and racial tensions, there is a silent killer among Somali youth that is thriving and killing at a much higher rate than C-19. In the last few weeks, more than ten young Somali boys and girls have been hospitalized due to a drug overdose. Three have been confirmed dead. Opioid abuse is killing Somali youth in Minnesota at a higher rate than the national average and resources are very limited. As parents mourn the sudden death of their otherwise healthy children, community leaders and politicians -alike have turned a blind eye. With Covid-19 crisis limiting schools and extracurricular activities, the Somali youth are abusing drugs and alcohol more than ever which has also increased violence among the youth. As reported by this publication, Somali youth were greatly affected by the killing of George Floyd and the riots that followed. They were on the front lines of the protests in an effort to show their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. This chain of events has made 2020 a deadly year for the Somali youth in MN. At one of the funerals of the deceased young men, there were over…