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Opinions Sun Current Newspapers encourages the free and open expression of ideas and opinions. To that end, we welcome letters to the editor and guest columns from members of the community on issues of local importance. Commentaries can be sent to [email protected]. current.mnsun.com Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 • Page 4 Opioids: The problem and possible solutions After her fourth major back surgery and enough chronic pain to fell an elephant, it would have been easy for my wife to succumb to the preferred route of treat- ment: prescription painkillers. As a nurse she had seen and helped treat numerous patients who had been through similar back surgeries and she also saw how easy it was to slide into the trap of masking pain with a drug. Her solution was to avoid the drugs, accept a certain level of lifelong distress and exercise her way through the rest. It has not been easy, but the alternative is a possible freefall into a very dark hole. Still, it would be nearly impos- sible for anyone coming out of a surgery to not utilize some form of a pharmaceutical solution. The pain is simply too severe. It’s the weeks and months after surgery that become critical for many. Most can wean themselves off. But the addictive nature of some drugs can be overwhelm- ing. For the past 20 years our nation has been under attack by opioids. In Minnesota alone, 422 people died in 2017 as a result of opioid overdose. That is approximately a 300 percent increase from 2003 opioid deaths, according to data from the CDC. KEITH ANDERSON ECM Publishers Keith Anderson is director of news for APG-East Central Minnesota. He can be reached at [email protected] Nationally, the numbers are staggering. In 2003, 12,940 peo- ple died from opioid overdose. By 2017, that number had sky- rocketed to 47,600. The illegally produced drug heroin has also become a big killer because of its availability and cost. It is often a next step for addicts when they get cut off from prescription meds. It claimed more than 15,482 lives in 2017. In 2003, 2,080 people died of heroin overdose. Natural and semisynthetic opi- oids, such as oxycodone and hy- drocodone, have long been a big problem as people have struggled with those prescription painkill- ers. In 2003, 4,867 Americans died from overdose on those drugs. By 2017, the number of Americans killed by overdose from those prescription drugs had increased to 14,495. The abuse is not restricted to certain age groups. In Minne- sota, people between the ages of 25-34 represented 26 percent of the opioid deaths in 2017. Those between the ages of 45-54 ac- counted for 23 percent, while 35- 44 was 20 percent, 55+ were 17 percent and those under the age of 24 stood at 13.5 percent. This is touching every demographic of our society. Still not convinced this is a serious issue? How do you feel about murder? There were 113 homicides in Minnesota in 2017. Nationally there were 17,284 re- ported homicides. As startling as those numbers may seem, they represented about one third the number of deaths from opioid overdose in the same year. If you’re like many Minne- sotans, you remember the day Prince died: April 21, 2016. He brought so much joy, energy and life to the world. Most people were stunned when they heard of his death. It seemed like the whole nation paused for a few days. For months people trav- eled to Paisley Park as if on a reli- gious pilgrimage, tagging purple balloons, ribbons and posters to a fence, all hoping to ease their personal agony. As a community, we mourned. His death, ruled an accidental overdose of the opioid fentanyl, silenced his voice not only prema- turely, but permanently. There are hundreds of others like Prince who have died of opi- oid overdose yet their deaths go unnoticed by most of us because they are rarely identifi ed publicly, but they matter. They, like Prince, contributed something to this world. They were somebody’s child, brother, mother, sister, fa- ther, co-worker or grandparent. Their deaths should not evapo- rate into the haze of our hectic world. In April, we will examine the opioid epidemic in a three-part series that will be shared in this paper, across other APG proper- ties in Minnesota and nationally. Our hope is to shed more light on the problem, highlight the dam- age it is infl icting and report on possible solutions that are being pursued. If you have something to share, whether you have been affected by it, currently struggle with opi- oid addiction or if you are part of the solution, we’d like to hear your story. With more than 47,000 annual deaths nationally, we can no lon- ger ignore that warning light. The repercussions are not coming, they have arrived. Each day we continue to sidestep this issue we lose another 130 lives. Small steps to reduce your carbon footprint When we think about the world and the global issues we have with the warming seas, deforestation, mass consumption of natural resources, etc. … it all feels very overwhelming. One may feel that the prob- lems are too large to do anything about, or feel that it is too late to make a difference – but that is not true. There are many things we can do individually that will have a positive impact on the planet. Let’s focus more locally, on our wonderful cities of Richfi eld and Bloomington. In 2018, free organics recycling programs started in both Richfi eld and Bloomington. Why is com- posting organic matter impor- tant? Because when food is tossed into the garbage, it is brought to the garbage dump and inciner- ated, which produces methane. Methane absorbs the sun’s heat and heats the atmosphere, add- ing to the overall problem. Com- posted organic material, however, will be turned into soil and used to benefi t the community overall, without negative effects on the planet. Take, for instance, local co-ops. STEPHANIE THUROW Guest Columnist Stephanie Thurow, a local cookbook author, lives in Richfi eld. For more infor- mation, visit minnesotafromscratch.com. We are so fortunate to have those types of grocery stores in the area to offer an impressive variety of natural and organic foods, most with a strong emphasis on provid- ing locally-farmed produce. Or- ganically-farmed produce is sus- tainably grown, without artifi cial pesticides, fertilizers, or GMOs. Sustainable farming is eas- ily summed up as farming that is healthy on the land (it does not deplete the soil of nutrients), it’s humane to livestock and it sup- ports the local communities. These co-ops are also wonderful because they offer bulk food sec- tions. Buying in bulk and purchas- ing package-free items ultimately reduces waste. In addition to the bulk food sections, you can also purchase dish soap, laundry de- tergent, hand lotion, shampoo/ conditioner and more, all in bulk. Us Richfi elders are also so lucky to have farmers markets both in the summer (at Veterans Park) and in the winter (at the Richfi eld Community Center). The market offers a variety of locally-grown produce, meats, cheeses, and other products that are available right at our fi ngertips, all under one roof. Often there is even entertainment and music of sorts to enjoy while supporting local makers. Check out the Bloomington farmers market calendar at blooming- tonmn.gov/market/bloomington- farmers-market. We are also fortunate to have fantastic thrift shops – those with fair prices and variety. Shopping secondhand overall reduces pollu- tion. Plus, Arc’s Value Village sup- ports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so shopping there has a dual benefi t. Other small steps that you can take to reduce your carbon foot- print and promote a healthy city, state and world: • Shop with reusable bags and use reusable water bottles, not single-use plastic; • Turn off the lights when you aren’t using them • Walk/bike instead of drive when possible • Reduce your intake of beef (or purchase grass-fed) • Carpool or take public trans- portation; • Wash your plastic baggies and reuse them over and over or switch to glass storage • Grow your own food • Preserve your own food • Use bamboo toothbrushes • Only use sustainable palm oil products • Recycle and reuse • Educate others on what they can do to help the environment • Vote for representatives that share your views on the climate and renewable energy • As stated above, shop locally, organically and package-free. Organic recycling locations for Richfi eld can be found at richfi eld- mn.gov/around-town/wood-lake- nature-center/organics-recycling. Organic recycling locations for Bloomington can be found at bloomingtonmn.gov/mnt/organ- ics-drop. C URRENT BLOOMINGTON/RICHFIELD (#21050) Copyright © 2019 by ECM Publishers, is published weekly by ECM Publishers, 10917 Valley View Rd, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3730. Business, Editorial, and Circulation Offi ces: 10917 Valley View Rd, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3730. Accounting Offi ce: ECM Publishers, 4095 Coon Rapids Blvd, Coon Rapids, MN 55433-2523. Call 763-712-3544 to subscribe. Periodical rates paid at Hopkins, MN. Postmaster: Send address changes to Sun Current Bloomington Richfi eld 4095 Coon Rapids Blvd, Coon Rapids, MN 55433-2523. ECM Publishers is a division of APG, Inc. 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