Community Medical Services in Minot is expanding access to addiction treatment and recovery services in response to a growing overdose crisis in North Dakota. Data from the CDC shows 122 North Dakotans died from drug overdoses in 2023. Since 2016, Community Medical Services has offered medication to treat opioid use disorders along with counseling and peer support, and clinic manager Justine Sharp noted they’ve seen growth in their services over the years.
Available Treatments and Services
The clinic is currently the only agency in town that provides methadone, a medication-assisted treatment that helps reduce the use of opioids. According to Sharp, the substances on the streets “are really dangerous substances. They cause all sorts of horrible side effects. People are at risk for overdosing, at risk for communicable diseases.” In addition to methadone and counseling, the center provides HIV screening, TB testing, and EKGs. The clinic is open Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. with no appointments required, emphasizing accessibility to people ready to start recovery.
Peer Support and Community Impact
Stephaney Beamis works as a peer support specialist at the center, using her own life experiences to help others walking the same path. Beamis found her purpose in recovery work after advocating for others during her own time in psychosocial rehab. “I was advocating for it when I was in psychosocial rehab. Because people would come to me asking for help with mediating or advocating for things,” said Beamis. The center currently serves more than 270 people in the Minot area, with their services expanding to the western part of the state and eastern Montana. Sharp emphasized their commitment to meeting people where they are: “Some places still require appointments, and if you have to wait—you can lose your nerve. So, we want everyone to come the second they feel ready. And we’ll be here to help.” The center serves people from all walks of life, working at each person’s pace toward recovery.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.kfyrtv.com/2025/12/24/here-help-community-medical-services-minot-offers-addiction-treatment-recovery-services/