MINOT — The North Dakota Highway Patrol and Minot Police Department hosted a roundtable discussion on June 1 about the opioid crisis in Minot and surrounding areas. The goal was to reignite the conversation about opioids and related overdoses and strengthen relationships between public and private entities working toward positive outcomes.
The topics included drug trafficking trends, overdose statistics, prevention efforts, and treatment and recovery services. During the meeting, the Health Statistics and Performance (HSP) Section within the North Dakota Department of Health shared preliminary overdose data. Their data indicates there were 126 drug overdose deaths statewide in 2021 which is an increase from 76 in 2019. Nineteen of those deaths occurred in Ward County which is a 58% increase from twelve deaths in 2019.
Toxicology reports showed that the most common drugs present during overdose deaths were opiates and amphetamines.
North Dakota Highway Patrol Colonel Brandon Solberg stated, “Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and even a small amount can be deadly without proper medical intervention.”
Minot Police Chief John Klug stated, “The Minot Police Department has seen an increase of overdose deaths in the city. They went from three overdose deaths in 2019 to eighteen in 2021. Collaborating with multiple entities is the best response to addressing this growing issue.”
Twenty-two public and private entities ranging from criminal justice, health and human services, elected offices, and local, state, and tribal governments attended the meeting. Those entities are listed below:
First District Health Unit - Minot
Minot Police Department
Minot City Mayor
Minot City Council
Minot Community Medical Services
Minot Area Recovery Community Organization
Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation Division of Drug Enforcement
North Central Human Service Center - Minot
North Dakota Department of Water Resources
North Dakota Department of Health
North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation
North Dakota Department of Human Services
North Dakota Highway Patrol
North Dakota Senate, District 40
North Dakota State and Local Intelligence Center
North Dakota Office of the Governor
North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance
Project Bee – Minot, ND
Ward County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center
Ward County State’s Attorney’s Office
Youth Works of North Dakota
