Fargo Police Department
Tsunami
A tsunami is not just one big wave, but a
series of waves called a “wave train.”
The first wave is usually not the strongest,
and later waves, such as the fifth or sixth,
may be significantly larger.
Opioid Abuse and Addiction
Users
 Opioid Addiction often starts with
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prescription drugs Hydrocodone, Oxycontin,
Oxycodone
Over prescribed, self-prescribing / supply
from family and friends.
Supply runs out, becomes hard to get
Cheap alternative – illicit opioid drugs
Addiction – Devil’s hand on your soul…
Users

Most are late teens to late twenties.
 They come from all different backgrounds
 Very difficult to quit using
 Severe withdrawal symptoms
○ Sweating
○ Vomiting
○ Shaking
○ Feel like you are dying
Criminal Justice Wave
Gang related drug networks
 Violence between rival gangs – territory,
markets.
 Addiction-driven behavior

 Property crime goes up to feed addiction
 Abuse and neglect cases go up (children)
 Users are likely to become victims as well
Est. Territory/Protecting it
Needle Sharing = Health Crisis
Health Care Wave
Overdoses
 Addiction – Addiction counseling, inpatient treatment, not enough resources.
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Rise in rates of hepatitis, HIV and other
disease associated with needle-sharing.
Narcotics
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HEROIN
 Heroin is a derivative of morphine.
 Morphine is a derivative of opium which comes from
the poppy plant.
 We are seeing various forms of heroin including
white powder heroin, brown powder heroin, and
black tar heroin.
 More and more of the Heroin we’re seeing is now
produced in Mexico. Cartels…
 Heroin is a schedule 1 drug.
○ Drugs & other substances with high potential for
abuse and has no accepted medical use
Heroin
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White Powder (China White)
Heroin
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Brown Powder
Heroin
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Black Tar Heroin
Heroin
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Effects on User
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Rush of Pleasure
Feel No Pain
Lethargic
Slurred Speech
Sweats
Drop in Body Temp
 Loss of Appetite
 Mood Swings
 No Response to Light by
Pupils
 Extreme Withdrawal
Symptoms
 Highly Addictive
 Higher Rate of Overdose
Heroin
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Effects on User
Heroin
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How is it Used?
Heroin
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Cost?
 Dosage usually 1/10th of a gram “point”
○ 1 point sells for about $50
○ Buying in bulk usually will get you a better price
○ 1 gram purchased in Minneapolis for $100 sold in
Fargo for up to 4 times as much, allowing
opportunity for sellers to support their own habit.
○ Gram quantities can be sold for $250-$400
per gram locally.
Heroin - Source
 Afghanistan, Asia, Mexico – Mexican Cartels
 Currently our most common sources of
heroin come from the Minneapolis/St. Paul
area.
 Criminal street gang members are
bringing/supplying the white powder heroin
here from the Twin Cities area.
 They typically are a part of a larger network
of users, who in turn “work for” the gang to
pay for their heroin.
Fentanyl
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Opioid Pain Medication
 Very powerful
 Measured in micrograms
 Schedule II drug
○ High potential for abuse
○ Has a currently accepted medical use
○ Abuse may lead to severe psychological or
physical dependence
Overdoses and Deaths

The “Good Stuff”
Recent series of overdoses and deaths
 Public Warning – Something dangerous
 Suspected fentanyl
 Fentanyl – almost impossible not to
overdose – 50 times more potent than
Heroin….
 Why? Chasing it….
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Fentanyl
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Heroin mixture
 We have seen heroin dealers mixing
Fentanyl in with heroin, or giving pure
Fentanyl as heroin
 Caused numerous overdoses, some
resulting in death
○ Users are relying on drug dealers to weigh
and measure amounts, and mix them
appropriately - 1/1000 of a gram.
○ Pharmacy Degrees?
 EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!!
Furanyl Fentanyl
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Analogue of Fentanyl
 Very similar effects and potency of Fentanyl
 NOT being used medically
○ Sold as a “research chemical”
 Manufactured in China
○ Can be bought on the internet
 We have started to see it becoming more
widespread in our community
Furanyl Fentanyl
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Appearing in different forms
 Heroin mixture
 Powdered Furanyl Fentanyl
 In solution
Good Samaritan Laws
North Dakota does not immunize someone who sells, provides, or
delivers to another that overdoses or dies
Overdoes – What To Do…
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Call 911 and emergency services on the
way.
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Opioids are a respiratory depressant.
People experience brain-death if their body
isn’t getting oxygen.
Open and maintain an airway – Position
 Provides breaths if necessary.
 Give Narcan (Naloxone) if it’s available.
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Prosecution
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Federal guidelines
 Delivering a substance to someone that
causes serious bodily injury or death
○ 20 years to Mandatory Life Imprisonment
○ Instances of overdoses where
Narcan/Naloxone was used to revive the
victim are treated as serious bodily injury
○ Could be charged with Attempted Murder
Narcotics
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Fargo Police Department
 4 Detectives
 1 DEA Task Force Officer
○ Investigates Federal Level cases
 1 Sergeant
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Cass County Drug Task Force
 BCI, Cass County SO, West Fargo Police
Moorhead Police Department
 DEA
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 TFOs and Special Agents
Narcotics
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DRUGS ARE BAD
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Questions?