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Overdose increase has Fargo police concerned

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FARGO — Fargo police are reporting a spike in overdose cases since the start of the month.

Since July 1, the department has responded to seven overdose calls, with four since Friday, July 10.

The number is the second largest in a month this year, behind only May. With the month only half over, the Fargo Police Department is concerned there may be a bad batch of drugs circulating.

On top of that, overdoses so far this year are up substantially.

In a Facebook post, the department said detectives were able to identify the possible source of drugs that was tied to at least one of the victims this month.

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Last Friday, police arrested Jacob Brandt, 25, of West Fargo, on charges of delivery of heroin. He had been out on parole related to delivery of heroin convictions in 2015 and 2017 in Ward County in far north-central North Dakota.

A parole violation warrant will keep him in custody for the time being, police said.

FPD said its narcotic unit is continuing to investigate the overdoses as they seek to identify the source or sources of illegal drugs related to the incidents.

However, FPD wrote in their Facebook post, "first and foremost we want to make sure the overdosing individual receives the proper medical attention."

In recent cases, police said investigation has shown people tried to use cold water to revive the person overdosing.

Police said this is "not an effective method to help someone suspected to be overdosing and not breathing effectively."

They said the best course of action is call 911 immediately to get medical help, begin CPR and, if available, administer naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, that can reverse opioid overdoses.

If naloxone is unavailable, first responders can administer it when they arrive.

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If a person is with someone overdosing, Fargo police reminded that overdose prevention and immunity laws protect individuals from prosecution and arrest if they call for help.

Fargo police have responded to 38 overdose incidents this year so far, with naloxone used in 22 of the cases. Nine people died from overdoses in 2020.

Last year at this time, Fargo police had responded to 20 overdoses, with naloxone used 12 times and five people dying.

Fargo Cass Public Health's Harm Reduction Center in downtown Fargo, 512 5th St. N., offers free naloxone and training in its use. It's open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday and Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon on Friday.

Police said people who may suffer from drug addiction should seek help to prevent tragic loss of life. They also asked anyone who has information related to an overdose to call the police narcotics line at 701-241-1415.

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