It is more than a little ironic that on the day New Ulm Medical Center kicked off its celebration of the 25th anniversary of its Substance Abuse Service, the Brown, Lincoln, Lyon and Redwood Drug Task Force was announcing the arrest of 18 people who are proof of why this service is needed.
The 18, arrested Tuesday, have been charged with a variety of drug-related offenses, mostly possession and sale of substances ranging from prescription drugs to ecstacy to heroin.
It is obvious that substance abuse services are needed to help not just these people, but also people whose use of legal substances like alcohol is ruining their lives.
For 25 years, the NUMC?Chemical Dependency treatment center has helped over 2,500 patients on an inpatient/residential basis, and thousands more have received outpatient services. Thousands have been helped, but there are so many more who need help too.
We salute the doctors, nurses and counselors who do so much to help those caught up in addiction. Their work is very much needed.