MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) — Police officers in Moorhead must now carry Naloxone while on duty. It is a life-saving medicine that can reverse an overdose from heroin, fentanyl and prescription opioid medications. A new state law went into effect on August 1st that requires all on-duty police in Minnesota to carry two doses of Naloxone, also known as Narcan, and…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KFGO/KVRR) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the state will receive another $208 million in opioid settlement money over the next 15 years as part of a $17 billion nationwide agreement with two drug makers, as well as pharmacies CVS and Walgreens. The money will be released to a national administrator later this summer. The final…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO/KVRR) — A new North Dakota opioid task force is planning two listening sessions. It is to gather input on how the state should invest its share of money from a settlement with opioid manufacturers. The Opioid Settlement and Advisory Committee is chaired by Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller. She says the state has already received over $9 million…
Doctors say they’re facing increasing threats of violence for refusing to prescribe opioids or trying to wean patients off the addictive painkillers. The issue was underscored by this weeks shooting at a Buffalo, Minnesota clinic that left one person dead and four injured. Authorities say 67-year-old Gregory Ulrich was angry about his medical treatment and had threatened a similar mass…
FARGO, N.D. – It’s never easy seeing a loved one go through addiction and even harder seeing them almost lose their life because of it. “Addiction is an issue in our community and we need to reduce that stigma and get them help. So, help our loved ones, help our family members, help our employees, help our co-workers,” Fargo Police…
GRAND FORKS, N.D.–The Grand Forks Police Department has responded to two separate opioid overdoses in the past two days. In each case, CPR was performed and naloxone was administered by first responders. Both victims were revived and appear to have fully recovered. Grand Forks police are urging citizens to refrain from using illegal drugs and to take preventative measures including…
FARGO, N.D.—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded North Dakota a grant for over $4 million to continue combating the opioid crisis. The funds were awarded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s State Opioid Response grant program. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration seeks to expand access to medication-assisted treatment and real-time data…
MINNESOTA – The North Star State saw a big drop in drug overdose deaths in 2018. Preliminary statewide data shows that overdose deaths dropped 17% from 733 in 2017 to 607 last year. Officials say the numbers are promising, but that overdose deaths remain at historic highs and more work needs to be done to prevent and treat substance abuse….
WASHINGTON – Criminal justice reform, addiction and farming. What’s being done in Washington to address these issues? North Dakota Congressman Kelly Armstrong is working on a bipartisan bill to give $5 billion over five years to fight the opioid epidemic. At least $4 million would be given to each state to reduce overdose deaths through prevention, treatment, and recovery. “If…
WHITE EARTH, Minn. (KFGO) – Minnesota’s White Earth Nation has joined the list of governments that are suing drug companies because of the opioid crisis. A complaint in U.S. District Court says the tribe filed the lawsuit to “eliminate the hazard to public health and safety” and to recover money spent because of false, deceptive and unfair marketing. The tribe…
