The first four months of 2020 have been deadly as an alarming increase in drug overdose deaths continues in the city.

The increase in deaths coincides with an increased appearance of fentanyl – a synthetic-based opioid. Fentanyl is mixed with heroin, often a deadly combination.

In 2019 Minot Police responded to a total of 28 overdose incidents that resulted in three deaths. During the first four months of 2020 alone those numbers have been easily surpassed with police responding to 39 overdose incidents, 8 of which ended in death.

Police Chief John Klug says his department is doing everything it can to find the source of fentanyl in the city. Fentanyl is up to 100 times more potent than morphine, making its use very lethal.

“I know we are dealing with something completely different,” said Klug.