North Dakota

‘There’s no demographic that’s safe’ as fentanyl use increases across North Dakota

Published

2 years ago

December 2, 2022

‘There’s no demographic that’s safe’ as fentanyl use increases across North Dakota

GRAND FORKS – There have been 131 drug overdose deaths in North Dakota final yr. That’s greater than the state’s 101 site visitors deaths in 2021.

The 2021 complete of overdose deaths is up from 76 in 2019 and roughly 116 in 2020.

“There’s no demographic that’s secure,” stated Col. Brandon Solberg of the North Dakota Freeway Patrol. “There are middle-schoolers, for instance, who’ve skilled an overdose.”

Opioids and amphetamines have been the commonest medication in 2021 overdose deaths, in keeping with Freeway Patrol press launch. The NDHP has been organizing opioid roundtable discussions in response to the rise of drug overdose deaths. The division brings collectively public well being and public security companies throughout the state to discover the depth of the problem in addition to potential options. Overdose statistics offered on the opioid roundtable dialogue in Grand Forks have been collected by the Division of Well being and Human Providers.

Nonetheless, the variety of overdoses is probably going a lot greater than statistics present as a result of many overdose deaths should not reported, in keeping with Northeast Central Judicial District Presiding Choose Donald Hager.

“We have now plenty of unreported overdoses on this group, and we see them as judges,” Hager stated.

When the reason for somebody’s loss of life is undetermined, judges could signal warrants for drug assessments, blood assessments and different associated searches. Of the overdose deaths Hager has seen in recent times, “all of them, just about, are fentanyl-related.”

“I name it the drug of loss of life,” Hager stated.

Although fentanyl (an artificial opioid) has been “prevalent” in North Dakota “for plenty of years now,” Grand Forks County State’s Legal professional Haley Wamstad stated “it has change into rather more accessible.”

In Grand Forks County, overdose deaths are rising as properly, from six in 2019 to 12 in 2021.

Fentanyl is a powder and could be injected intravenously. Nonetheless, the drug is usually manufactured right into a capsule that resembles M30s (oxycodone). The tablets make ingesting fentanyl a lot simpler.

“They don’t want needles or, you already know, something like that,” Wamstad stated.

Counterfeit M30 tablets have change into commonplace in recent times and, thus, regulation enforcement can sometimes determine the tablets as fentanyl. Nonetheless, counterfeits usually went undetected when fentanyl tablets have been new to the drug market.

Not too long ago, “rainbow fentanyl” – fentanyl tablets of varied colours – has been present in North Dakota.

“Sufficient time has handed the place people understand that almost all of those tablets are counterfeit, so now [manufacturers are] beginning to get into the enterprise of blending up their selection and choices and colours,” Solberg stated.

“They’re beginning to make them appear to be Smarties,” stated Hager, referring to a sort of sweet. “It’s type of harmful for youths, if these get handed alongside.”

Not too long ago, fentanyl has additionally been discovered laced into marijuana.

“That’s a scary half,” stated Hager, “and an argument, I suppose, for individuals who need [marijuana] legalized and managed.”

A serious concern with counterfeit M30 tablets is customers’ lack of ability to find out the amount of fentanyl in any capsule they arrive throughout. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration considers two milligrams of fentanyl to be a probably deadly dose – for somebody who has not constructed up a tolerance to the drug.

“With a view to put that into perspective,” stated Solberg, “I normally share {that a} sugar packet weighs 4 grams, so the residue left behind after dumping out the sugar crystals could possibly be two milligrams.”

In keeping with Solberg, the absence of high quality management within the manufacture of counterfeit M30s leads to vastly completely different fentanyl doses per capsule. The method doesn’t happen “in multimillion greenback managed lab amenities” corresponding to prescription tablets are likely to, Solberg stated.

“These could be people … utilizing a bullet to combine up, and so one capsule may need a particularly potent quantity of fentanyl, and one capsule could be gentle,” Solberg stated.

“They’re simply taking an opportunity, whether or not they realize it or not,” stated Hager. “It’s like enjoying Russian Roulette.”

A big contributor to fentanyl’s growing presence in North Dakota is the substantial sum of money to be made by promoting medication in smaller communities.

Hager and Solberg each stated one fentanyl capsule could be offered for $80 (and even $90, Hager stated) on Native American reservations in North Dakota, the place the provision of fentanyl and different illicit medication is minimal.

The market worth of fentanyl in Grand Forks, although not as excessive as on reservations, is critical in comparison with massive metropolitan areas.

As a choose, Hager sees many defendants from out of state who don’t have any ties to Grand Forks County – skilled or private.

“There’s lots of people that don’t have jobs that come by way of courtroom, however they’ve massive quantities of money on them, and that’s from promoting medication,” Hager stated.

“There’s disposable earnings in our state,” stated Solberg, “heavy ag, heavy power – and the felony component is simply responding to that. They’re attempting to satisfy that demand and supply an satisfactory provide.”

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North Dakota

North Dakota delegates react to former President Trump’s RNC speech

Published

3 hours ago

July 19, 2024

Press Room

North Dakota delegates react to former President Trump’s RNC speech

MILWAUKEE (KFYR/KMOT) – The Republican National Convention wrapped up on Thursday with former President Donald Trump accepting the Republican nomination for president.

We got the chance Thursday night to speak with members of the North Dakota delegation. When we spoke to the delegates, they talked about the enthusiasm that former President Trump brought onto the stage just a week after that assassination attempt on his life.

“Well, it was exciting. He told his story in a very frank way. And it sounds like a very unique way he’s done. It’s not like he’s going to tell it that way again,” said Ben Koppelman, delegate.

“His message was amazing is we just got to make this country great again and get back to what we’re good at working hard drilling for oil, just making America great again,” said Mary Graner, delegate.

“Well, it was longer than I thought it was going to be for sure. But, you know, he gets portrayed as the guy that sows division, and he did just the opposite,” said Scott Louser, delegate.

“Amazing. I mean, breathtaking. It was so awesome. You just felt full of hope and gratitude and promise for our country,” said Wendi Baggaley, delegate.

We spoke with more of our delegates about a whole range of topics, and we will have more follow-ups in the coming days.

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North Dakota

ND American Indian Summit celebrates its 10th anniversary

Published

10 hours ago

July 19, 2024

Press Room

ND American Indian Summit celebrates its 10th anniversary

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – For the last ten years, the North Dakota American Indian Summit has provided information and resources about Native American culture and history for the classroom.

It has also discussed ways to help Native American students work on healing any trauma or improving their mental health to aid their academic success.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the Native American graduation rate ten years ago was 60 percent. That year, the North Dakota American Indian Summit was organized by the Department of Public Instruction. The event’s purpose was to educate teachers on how to lead their Native American students to success in school.

”It became obvious that it was critical, for the success of our state, and for the ability for us to fully thrive to our fullest potential as a state, we needed to make sure that every single student in our school system was meeting their fullest potential,” said Kirsten Baesler, state superintendent.

This year Derrick Boles, a motivational speaker, was invited to be one of the keynote speakers at the summit. Boles’ message was about mental health and taking charge of your life. He said he sees similarities between challenges in the Black community to the ones the Native American community faces.

”There’s so much growth that can happen if we can connect people together, from multiple backgrounds,” said Boles. “So having different experiences, different perspectives and just having everybody thinking the same thing is the issue.”

Over the last 10 years, the Native American student graduation rates have increased, from 60 percent in 2014 to 77 percent in 2023.

”Right before the pandemic, our Native American students were graduating at the same rate as all of our overall graduation rate, and so they were in the upper eighties, lower nineties graduation rate,” said Baesler.

The rates decreased again during the COVID-19 lockdown, but Baesler said they have been on the rise.

This year’s summit was focused on strengthening Native American education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

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North Dakota

Neil Koenig

Published

17 hours ago

July 18, 2024

Press Room

Neil Koenig, 78, Jamestown, ND, died Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at Jamestown Regional Medical Center in Jamestown.

Neil Nathan Koenig was born in Everett, WA on December 9, 1945 to Edgar and Marjorie (Peyer) Koenig joining brother Larry and sisters Glenda and Kay. In 1946 at the age of 9 months his family returned to ND. They rented in the Robinson area until purchasing a farm north of Robinson. In 1954 a brother, Douglas joined the family. Neil attended the North Merkel #3 Country School through the eighth grade, finishing High School in Robinson, ND. In 1957 their mother passed away. Neil continued working on the family farm.

He married Catherine Mary McDade on July 17, 1965 at Aberdeen, SD. They made their home with his, Dad, Edgar and brother Doug on the recently purchased Louie West/Virgil Koenig farm. On April 28, 1968 a daughter, Georgette Ja was born. In fall of 1969 the farm was sold, Neil continued to work several jobs in the area until employment at a newly built Western Gear Manufacturing Company in Jamestown, ND. Neil was the 4th one hired at Western Gear and continued working through 9 different company name changes at the aerospace plant for 37 years until retiring in March of 2008. Neil, Cathy and Georgette moved to Jamestown, ND on New Years Day of 1971. On March 16, 1972 a son, Brent LeRoy was born.

Neil is survived by his wife Cathy Koenig, Daughter Georgette Koenig and son, Brent Koenig (Marella Presler), his grandchildren Danielle Trapp, Jesse Sailer, Lee Trapp, Cameron Koenig, Jade Koenig, and Keely Wagner, and his great grandchildren Max, Isla, and Greyson. He is also survived by 1 brother Douglas Koenig. 3 sisters-in-law Peggy Kertscher, Jill (Sunil) Misra, June (Dale) Neumiller. As well as many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his mother, father, 1 brother, 2 sisters, 2 sisters-in-law, 1 brother-in-law, 1 niece, and many close aunts and uncles.

Visitation- 4-7p Sunday at the funeral home

Funeral Service- 11:00 AM Monday, July 22, 2024 at Haut Funeral Home in Jamestown.

Interment- 2:30 PM Monday at Fairview Cemetery- SE of Robinson, ND.

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