‘Meeting people where they’re at’: Broadway Family Medicine offers hope amid Opioid crisis

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Broadway Family Medicine is located at 2426 W Broadway Ave Credit: Kaylie Sirovy/MSR

In the heart of North Minneapolis, Broadway Family Medicine is taking a radical approach to addiction treatment: putting people first.

For more than a decade, the clinic has stood on the front lines of Minnesota’s opioid epidemic, offering compassionate, culturally responsive care in a community often underserved and overlooked.

“We provide a stigma-free, no-judgment, all-are-welcome environment for anybody suffering from use disorder — or frankly, any other medical problem,” said Bob Levy, associate professor at the University of Minnesota and director of the Minnesota Substance Use & Community Health Lab (MN-SUCH).

That focus on dignity and meeting people where they are isn’t just good practice — it’s life-saving. Overdose deaths in Minnesota remain high, particularly among Black and Hispanic Minnesotans.

While opioid-related deaths declined 8% statewide from 2022 to 2023, according to the Minnesota Department of Health, the crisis continues in Hennepin County, where Broadway operates. County data show 373 opioid-related deaths in 2023, 94% of them involving fentanyl. Among African Americans, those deaths rose more than 14% from the previous year, jumping from 129 to 148.

“We were the first clinic in Minnesota to offer outpatient opioid use disorder treatment with commercial insurance, including Medicaid,” Levy said. “We’ve trained hundreds of doctors in the last 10 years, but a lot of people don’t know this help exists.”

Broadway’s providers work to counter persistent stigma, which Levy calls one of the clinic’s biggest obstacles.

“I hear it from patients all the time: ‘I should just be strong enough to stop,’” he said. “But that’s not how it works. Nobody blames someone for having diabetes. Why should we treat addiction any differently?”

The clinic’s response includes education and outreach, offering free public training on fentanyl, Narcan use, and harm reduction. It’s not just about medication, Levy said. The clinic has recently added a social worker, a patient care navigator, and expanded partnerships to address social factors that contribute to addiction.

Historical distrust of the medical system — especially among Black Minnesotans — adds another layer of complexity. “I’ve heard it directly from people: ‘Don’t tell these white doctors my business,’” Levy said.

“And I get it. There’s a long, ugly history there. That’s why we’re actively recruiting more African American providers to work in our clinic.”

Coordinating much of this work is Mary Lonergan-Cullum, research project manager for MN-SUCH. “We have research, service and community outreach components,” she said.

“We use grant funding not just for data collection, but for direct patient services — things like housing referrals, food insecurity resources, and harm reduction supplies.”

Among their newest initiatives is a patient navigator program to help individuals transition from emergency rooms into long-term care. “It’s not enough to just stabilize someone in the ER,” Lonergan-Cullum said. “We need to make sure they have ongoing support after they leave.”

The team also distributes Narcan, wound care kits, and hygiene supplies through partnerships ranging from grassroots collectives to larger organizations like the Steve Rummler HOPE Network.

“More Narcan in the community means fewer people dying,” Levy said. “And you can’t treat somebody who’s dead.”

Levy said it’s the individual patient stories that keep the team motivated. One woman came in years ago seeking birth control while struggling with substance use. She returned a year and a half later to thank him. She was sober, employed, and in a stable relationship.

“‘I would’ve definitely had a kid by now, and that would’ve messed everything up,’” Levy recalled her saying.

Despite looming federal funding cuts that threaten the clinic’s work, Levy and Lonergan-Cullum remain committed. “I’m very worried about that,” Levy said. “We’ve spent a decade building this infrastructure, and it could all just disappear one day.”

Still, the mission is clear. “This is a medical condition,” Lonergan-Cullum said. “It’s not a choice. It’s not a moral failing. Treatment works, and we should help people where they’re at.”

And for those wondering whether to carry Narcan, her message is simple: “You won’t hurt someone by giving them Narcan, even if it wasn’t an overdose. But you might save their life.”

For anyone struggling, or for those who love someone who is, the message from Broadway Family Medicine is one of hope. “You don’t have to suffer,” Levy said. “You’re not alone. There is help.”