Minneapolis’ East African Community Sheds Light on Opioid Crisis: “The Forgotten Ones”

MINNEAPOLIS – Many individuals in the East African community silently struggle with opioid addiction. To break down stigmas and promote support, a compelling documentary called “The Forgotten Ones” has been released. Abdirahman Warsame, the film’s producer, believes that storytelling will create empathy and foster connection, as connection is essential in overcoming addiction and achieving sobriety. According to Warsame, this story needed to be shared because there is a lack of resources and data collection within the Somali immigrant community, resulting in a lack of awareness about the struggles and deaths occurring on a daily basis.

The documentary sheds light on the suffering experienced by the community, including instances where parents discovered their children deceased in the morning. Warsame vividly recalls a month when seven people from their community passed away, but the topic remained unspoken.

Located in Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, which is also Warsame’s hometown, opioid addiction is a prevalent issue. Despite the desire to help, individuals lack knowledge on how to provide assistance. Motivated by his personal experiences, Warsame founded Generation Hope, a licensed peer recovery support organization that aids individuals in overcoming addiction. Through their work, they aim to combat judgment and isolation, while raising awareness and demonstrating that no one is alone in their struggle.

“The Forgotten Ones” aims to remove stigmas that prevent individuals from seeking help by showcasing the realities of addiction. The ultimate goal is to gather resources and support to facilitate change. Addiction affects everyone, transcending communities and demographics. As a testament to this, Warsame will be presenting “The Forgotten Ones” at a special showing on Friday evening at Macalester College in St. Paul. Additionally, he plans to unveil plans for a drop-in center in Cedar-Riverside, the epicenter of the opioid epidemic in the East African Community.