Submitted Art Overdose rates per 10,000 residents by county from 2019 through July 2023 are mapped on this graphic from the Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths 2023 legislative report of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS). Graphic provided by NDHHS.

The Minot community was recently given a grim reminder of the nation’s continued struggle with drug addiction and abuse after a recent spate of overdoses resulted in the death of a Minot woman.

The recent spike in overdoses occurred during a 24-hour period beginning Jan. 4. This spike led to a social media statement from Minot Police, reminding the public of Good Samaritan laws, which protect individuals from prosecution if they call 911, remain onsite and cooperate with law enforcement and medical personnel once they arrive.

“Overdose trends are something we monitor along with many other local and state agencies. Seeing rapid increases, in itself, can be caused by a variety of factors,” Minot Police Capt. Justin Sundheim said. “Our overall goal will always remain zero overdose deaths; however, we will continue to investigate and work with community partners to try and ensure any dramatic spikes are temporary. “

Authorities eventually arrested and charged Antuan J. Smith, 25, Minot, in connection with the overdoses, on four counts of delivery of controlled substances resulting in injury or death. At Smith’s initial appearance held earlier this week, Ward County State’s Attorney Roza Larson confirmed that of the four victims, an unidentified female had died after using narcotics she allegedly purchased from him.

The three surviving victims were reached by law enforcement and first responders in time to be administered treatments of Narcan or naloxone, a chemical that reverses the effects of opioids. Though only four overdoses were confirmed by law enforcement to have been linked to Smith thus far, according to the probable cause affidavit, three of the victims believed they were purchasing cocaine and said they were not users of heroin or fentanyl.

The exact nature of the narcotics in question has not yet been confirmed at this time.

Authorities throughout the country have been reporting increased incidents of individuals overdosing on products adulterated or cut with compounds such as the naloxone-resistant horse tranquilizer xylazine. Though state agencies have tracked the appearance of xylazine within North Dakota, only nine deaths have been connected to the substance in the last four years. A Minot Police spokesperson was unsure if any overdoses have been linked to the substance locally and was not able to provide any further data before publication.

According to the Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths 2023 legislative report from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, overdose deaths have increased 75% in the last four years In North Dakota. Of the 496 unintentional drug overdose deaths tracked by HHS between 2019 and July of 2023, 374 involved opioids, of which 303 specifically were linked to fentanyl use.

The report showed 29 counties had recorded overdose deaths since 2019, with the rate of overdoses in Ward and Mountrail Counties exceeding the state average of 1.71 per 10,000 population with rates of 2.43 and 4.57, respectively. Mountrail has the second highest rate in the state, above Benson County at 4.20 and below Sioux County with 5.13 overdoses per 10,000 population.

The reporting and tracking of data on drug overdoses, and specifically opioid overdoses, is not consistently reported to First District Health Unit, according to Jen Clark, director of Health Promotions, nor could firm numbers for local overdoses be provided by the Minot Police Department.

First District offers Narcan training once a month at the South Building located at 801 11th Ave. SW in Minot. The next training date is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 8, but employers and other organizations can contact First District to arrange onsite training upon request.