Phillips, Eaton Talk Opioids at Town Hall

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips joined a panel of health care leaders in a community conversation in Shorewood Monday night to discuss the opioid crisis. The panel discussed how overdoses have taken a financial toll on counties. Counties pick up the tab for everything from emergency services to child protection.

State Sen. Chris Eaton (DFL-Brooklyn Center) participated, saying opioids are over utilized, especially when it comes to treating chronic pain.

“I’m hoping we can change the mentality of the public that it’s not normal to be pain-free all the time,” said Sen. Eaton. “If you get an injury, you can expect some pain. We want that magic pill all the time. Unfortunately, this magic pill, the opioid, has a lot of bad side effects, the main one being death.”

Senator Eaton is hoping to pass legislation that provides funds for naloxone, the medication that reverses the effects of opioid overdoses. Her bill would also fund licensed counselors who would go to people’s homes to provide addiction treatment.

Brooklyn Center