Heroin Overdose Problem Addressed at Rochester Forum by Local Agencies, Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers in Minnesota
A forum was recently held in Rochester to discuss ways Olmsted County can address and improve its heroin epidemic, which is driving high overdose rates across local communities. The forum was attended by Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson, Sgt. Paul Wilson with the Rochester Police Department Narcotics Unit, and experts from drug and alcohol rehab centers in Minnesota that treat opioid addiction. The purpose of the forum was to drive local awareness about opioid addiction, and discuss how the epidemic is affecting Olmsted County residents.
If you or someone you love is addicted to heroin or painkillers, understand that help is just a phone call away. Call our 24/7 confidential helpline at 888-414-2380 to learn more about your rehab options. Our staff is devoted to providing you with resources that can help you or your loved one overcome opioid addiction.
Hot Topics of Discussion at the Rochester Opioid Forum
The forum featured speeches from locals who lost their children to opioid overdoses.
Heroin overdose deaths in the United States have increased by nearly 250% over the last four years, and are impacting families across both urban and rural communities. So far this year, the county has seen a 60% increase in drug cases, according to Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem. The attorney says heroin is literally killing people across the county, and that community members must come together and learn how to fight addiction.
Torgerson and Wilson of local law enforcement say most of the county’s drug cases involve either heroin or meth. Dr. Casey Clements, emergency physician with Mayo Clinic, adds that on any given night, an average of three people will visit the emergency room suffering from intoxication by meth. In regards to heroin, Dr. Clements admits the medical community is partly to blame for the county’s heroin epidemic, given 80% of all heroin users begin their addiction with prescription painkiller abuse.
The forum also featured speeches from local guest speakers who lost their children to heroin and opioid overdoses. Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge — the addiction treatment service that hosted the Rochester forum — says the purpose of these speeches were to drive awareness, and inform local residents about what they can do to fight heroin and opioid abuse.
Preventing Heroin and Opioid Addiction in Olmsted County
Adam Pederson of the Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge service says over 70% of prescription painkillers are taken from family and friends who are no longer using the medication. Pederson encourages families to lock up and secure painkillers to prevent kids, teens, and others susceptible to addiction from accessing the drugs.
The addiction treatment service is also raising awareness about opioid addiction at local high schools through a program called Know the Truth. Pederson, who shared statistics about teen opioid abuse at the forum, says an estimated 29% of students in the county have used illegal drugs, with 25% of those students abusing prescription painkillers. The more families know about opioid addiction, the fewer problems Olmsted County will experience with heroin and opioid overdoses.
If you are addicted to heroin or painkillers and live in Minnesota, understand there are several local rehab centers that can help you achieve sobriety and improve your livelihood. Call our confidential helpline at 888-414-2380 to learn more about drug and alcohol rehab centers in Minnesota that will help you overcome opioid dependence and addiction.
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