A Fargo problem, a Moorhead problem, a West Fargo problem, a North Dakota and a Minnesota problem

The tragedy of heroin use and overdoses is landing at our feet and our community and state are unprepared. Lives are in the balance.

While most compassionate people are surprised by this happening here, they also are grasping for understanding and for ways to help.

Make no mistake, this is a Fargo problem, a Moorhead problem, a West Fargo problem, a North Dakota and a Minnesota problem.

A too-common sentiment is, “Well, shouldn’t people take responsibility for their own lives?”

Isn’t that an easy way to excuse not getting engaged? Is that not denial?

Opioid use often starts with medical prescriptions, whether it be fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone or oxycontin. A person breaks a leg, has a surgery, or suffers an injury and doctors give them prescriptions for pain medications, often addictive. For many, that’s the first step down a path that can in the end be deadly.

As a community, we need to assess the situation, quantify use and abuse, evaluate remedies and intervention capabilities, and explore new models and options to fill our gaps in recovery and treatment.

Meantime, each of us plays a role in this. Far too many families and friends are affected directly by this and they bear the burden alone. That needs to change. They need support and understanding. They need to know others care.

If you want to help, our first recommendation is to make a donation to the FM Good Neighbor Project. Each heroin reversal kit they get out very likely represents a life saved. Call them at 218-790-7707 and say you want to help them help others. For less than $100, you can sponsor a home use kit that may well pull an individual through a life-threatening overdose of heroin.

Reaching out to elected officials locally and statewide will also make a difference. There is already a mental health crisis in North Dakota and that’s before forced budget cuts coming down the pike. Speak out. Demand we do everything possible to stem this tide. Tell your representative leaders you do not support them if this is not a priority.

Vote your favorites

The Valley’s original and longest running Best of the Bets contest begins next week in the High Plains Reader. This is the contest many others mimic and copy. Yet HPR’s Best Bets contest is unique. It belongs to you, our readers and our community.

Voting will commence April 15: first the nomination phase, then the finalist phase. And then the gathering of the best of the best as the people’s choice awards are presented.

The contest will take place online. Follow HPR online for links to cast your votes. And while you’re at it, let your favorite artists, musicians, chefs, bartenders, barbers or stylists know you put their name forward. Thousands of you will vote, and the results are always a good barometer of who’s who, where to go, and what’s what in the greater Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo community.

Filing deadlines

April 11 is the filing deadline for candidates for local offices to be determined in the June 14 election. There are two vacancies on the Fargo City Commission, four seats on the ballot for Fargo School Board with at least two of them vacant, and an important vote on corporate farming.

Consider throwing your name in the hat; express your willingness to be a public servant. This is the foundation of America. It’s grassroots in every regard.

Power outage

As HPR was preparing to go to press last Wednesday, our power went out along with hundreds of others. We apologize for the glitches that took place in our print edition. Our staff was entirely under duress as they scrambled to try to get pages to the printer, despite several files having crashed in the process. We owe deep gratitude to Unseen Ministries across the street, who graciously let the HPR team move equipment over and cobble the edition together, while using their Internet as well. They are a good neighbor in so many ways -- this is just one of them.