Fargo, N.D. (NewsDakota.com0 – The Fargo Police Department on Thursday said that they are seeing a sharp increase in the number of overdoses in 2021.

According to a news release,  Police say they have responded to 61 overdoses in the city as of May 31st, 13 of which resulted in a death.  There were 91 overdoses for all of 2020 in Fargo.

Here is a portion of today’s news release from FPD:

The trend we are continuing to see is the use of M30s, Oxycodone, or Percocet that has Fentanyl in them. These pills are typically small, round, and blue in color. Some pills have “M30” stamped on them, but some have no markings. The department would like to remind the community not to ingest any substance that was acquired through illegal means, as it may not be what it is advertised to be.

If you are with someone who is experiencing an overdose, call 911 immediately. The Overdose Prevention and Immunity Law (North Dakota Century Code 19-03.1-23.4) protects victims of an overdose from prosecution for ingesting and/or possessing illegal drugs and also protects those individuals present during an overdose situation, provided they remain on scene until assistance arrives and cooperate with the medical treatment of the victim.

The Fargo Police Department’s Narcotics Unit thoroughly investigates all reported overdoses. The purpose of these investigations is to identify people, or groups of people, who are distributing these dangerous substances to the citizens of Fargo who suffer from addiction, and hold them accountable for providing and/or manufacturing these drugs. House Bill 1287, which takes effect on August 1, 2021, provides an enhanced penalty for drug dealers and traffickers found guilty of selling, distributing, or delivering a controlled substance, which causes the death of an individual.