Board hears data on syringe-services program, hepatitis C trends and kratom rulemaking

Public health director Jen presented program-level outcomes and pending regulatory activity. She said syringe-services programs contributed to statewide declines in hepatitis C since 2018 but that decreased utilization amid negative publicity coincided with a recent uptick locally. Jen summarized state figures, saying the state's caseload moved from roughly 1,091 in 2018 toward 348 in 2025, and that Fargo's Cass County cases rose from 41 to 67 in 2025.

Jen also briefed the board on kratom regulatory activity: during a recent special session the legislature advanced a measure limiting synthetic kratom and the attorney general's administrative rules temporarily removed kratom products from shelves. She said draft rules include a proposed $10,000 license fee for kratom sellers and would limit sales to lab-tested "Pure Leaf" products; staff noted there is conversation about pursuing a full ban in the upcoming legislative session.