Be sensible about this

I am responding to a letter from Gary McLehaney of Benton concerning the use of opiates. Obviously Mr. McLehaney has never endured severe pain for any length of time, believing bearing pain toughens you up.

I’m sorry for his loss of friends and family due to opiates. However, if properly used, opiates can bring considerable relief for severe pain.

I’m a 77-yearold woman suffering from debilitating knee pain from arthritis. No,

I am not a candidate for knee replacement because of heart disease. Without the controlled use of opiates, I am unable to walk across the room.

I don’t know Mr. McLehaney’s age or health issues. I pray he never has to sit in a chair for the rest of his life being toughened by pain. For me, I prefer to take my prescribed opiates and to be able to care for myself, and participate in chair yoga at the Y. I have never experienced a “high” from taking what my doctor has given me.

Taking opiates off the market will only cause many people to needlessly suffer. It will not cure the problem of addiction.

I wonder how Mr. McLehaney feels about visiting a liquor store, where many alcoholics purchase their “drugs.” Drunk drivers cause many deaths—should we remove alcohol from the marketplace? I don’t think so. I enjoy an occasional glass of wine, but that doesn’t make me an alcoholic. Likewise, I use opioids, but I am not a drug addict.

Let’s try to be sensible about these pain relievers. Properly used, they can bring relief to so many.

NONA DUMAS

Hot Springs

Coaches need strategy

I’ve seen several accounts since the TCU game in which it seems most criticisms were from our coaches suggesting players will have to do better. I do not recall any related to the terrible game plan, strategy, and most important, the inability of our coaches to make obvious and critically needed adjustments.

This game was undoubtedly the very worst Razorback game I have witnessed over the past several decades. I say this because we were terrible in all phases of the game, except the fine marching band.

I am amazed that mistake after mistake was allowed to continue throughout the game without appropriate adjustments being made. What coach with limited experience would have had a game plan to rush only three down linemen desperately needing to try and harass a proficient passing quarterback like Kenny Hill?

TCU stacked the box with four down linemen backed up by their three linebackers. With their linebackers rushing most every passing (and running play), Austin Allen was harassed on every passing attempt and paid the price. And what team can run successfully against a seven-man defensive line? What a marvelous opportunity to throw quick, short passes over the middle in the area vacated by their linebackers. This was never done. In our opinion, a grievous mistake by our offensive coordinator.

Can you recall a major college game where two field-goal point-blank attempts were missed back to back? Who is coaching special teams, and why wasn’t our kicker prepared? And can you imagine a major college receiver running a cross pattern in the end zone to catch a touchdown pass who did not even know he was out of the field of play?

Witnessing a game like that, its preparation and execution makes it difficult to maintain the faith we have in our coaching staff, beginning with the head coach. He, along with key staff, needs desperately to observe and correct miscalculations in developing the game plan prior to kickoff and as the game progresses.

JOHN W. NIVEN

Little Rock

On rural health care

Small-town hospitals are once again in danger. The Graham-Cassidy bill being considered by the United States Senate will cut Medicaid, put pressure on small hospitals to close, and reduce the health services that are available in rural Arkansas.

If you live in a small Arkansas town, please contact Senators Tom Cotton and John Boozman and tell them to vote against the GrahamCassidy bill. DOUG HOLMES North Little Rock