It’s hard to imagine anything more alarming than a 984 percent increase in opiate and heroin abuse among all groups from 1998 to 2011, but here it is:

A 3,695 percent increase for abuse of opiates and heroin among American Indians.

“These are startling statistics, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would well note,” said an understated Richard Wright, chairman of the Minnesota American Indian Advisory Council. The council represents 11 Minnesota Indian reservations.

On June 7, Wright brought together more than 30 chemical addition counselors and public health officials for a lunch-hour discussion on how to “optimize care for opiate-addicted clients,” and figure out how to care for the caregivers, too.