Drug Abuse – TheMinotVoice.com

Minnesota prisons confront national trend of ‘drug-soaked’ mail filtering behind bars

by: Josh Wolsky | January 15, 2023

What’s the newest way to get drugs into prison? Put a stamp on them and send it. Of course, you’ll have to soak the paper and envelope in liquid narcotics, first. Stephen Montemayor with the Star Tribune has the full story on innovation in evasion that’s got Minnesota corrections officers on their toes. Why does

Read & Share sourced from: Star Tribune

What Happens When The Heroin Epidemic Hits Small Town America?

by: Josh Wolsky | July 3, 2017

Mayor Barney’s recently formed Blue Ribbon Commission on Addiction is an important step for Minot and the region when it comes to fighting our growing opioid and addiction problem. Hopefully, we’re able to hold back a rising tide, hopefully. Perhaps our success will be burgeoned by an understanding of how we got here and what

Read & Share sourced from: NPR

Heroin use, addiction up sharply among U.S. whites

by: Josh Wolsky | March 30, 2017

Senator Heitkamp was in Minot recently talking about the opioid epidemic that’s taking hold in North Dakota. Her attention to the matter adds credence to news stories like this story from Reuters that calls out evidence that heroin usage is up enormously in the last decade. And the demographic where it’s most prevalent? It happens

Read & Share sourced from: Reuters

Surgeon General calls for action to fight drug, alcohol abuse

by: Josh Wolsky | November 19, 2016

Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, has issued a first-ever report on substance abuse. Here’s the quote that sums it up, “The most important thing is, we have to change attitudes towards addiction and get people into treatment,” Murthy said in an interview. “Addiction is a disease of the brain,” he added, “not a

Read & Share sourced from: Reuters

Number of Bakken Babies Born Addicted to Drugs on the Rise

by: Josh Wolsky | February 17, 2016

It’s yet another byproduct of the prosperity delivered by the oil boom; the number of babies born addicted, particularly to meth, cocaine, and heroin is on the rise. And it’s a multifaceted problem. Get the full story in an excellent article by Elizabeth Hackenburg.

Read & Share sourced from: Williston Herald

Accidental Drug Overdoses on Rise in North Dakota

by: Josh Wolsky | June 16, 2015

In 2005, 15 North Dakotan’s died of drug-related causes. In 2013, the number was 52. Get details on the story and overdose red flags to watch for in this article from the Fargo Forum.

Read & Share sourced from: InForum

Why Not Start Addiction Treatment Right In The ER?

by: Josh Wolsky | April 30, 2015

When it comes to treating drug addicted patients in emergency rooms, a compassionate treatment plan – one that provides drugs that ease withdrawal symptoms during the ER visit combined with counseling at the same time was more successful at getting patients into long-term treatment programs.

Read & Share sourced from: NPR

Drug Trade: Lower Prices Attract Unwanted Buyers and Sellers

by: Josh Wolsky | April 29, 2015

The laws of economics are proving burdensome for local drug enforcement officers. Where there’s money, the supply will follow. Where there’s supply, the prices will drop. When prices drop, more people participate. Get the story from the Dickinson Press.

Read & Share sourced from: Dickinson Press

North Dakota Bill Lowers Charges for Drug Paraphernalia

by: Josh Wolsky | April 15, 2015

The bill lowers paraphernalia related charges for first-time offenders to a Class A misdemeanor. Repeat offenders would be subject to felony charges.

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Drug Explosion Follows Oil Boom on Fort Berthold

by: Josh Wolsky | February 23, 2015

We all know that with prosperity come problems that we weren’t expecting, and increased drug use — especially on the Fort Berthold Reservation — is one of them. Cindy Carcamo reporting for the L.A. Times goes in depth to provide a personal perspective on the problem.

Read & Share sourced from: Los Angeles Times

Accidental deaths from drug use on the rise in North Dakota

by: Josh Wolsky | January 28, 2015

Over the past 15 years, the number of annual deaths caused by drug overdoses has grown dramatically. And the scary part, we don’t really know how bad the problem is or where to begin fighting it because Department of Health is not tracking the data.