Methamphetamine in South Dakota

Meth Situation and Prevalence

The use of methamphetamine continues to affect all areas of South Dakota, with use of and demand for the drug continuing to rise. (Drug Enforcement Administration, South Dakota State Factsheet, 2009)

According to 2004-2007 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 1.09% of persons aged 12 or older in South Dakota reported using methamphetamine within the past year. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007)

Results of a 2007 survey of South Dakota students show that approximately 3.2% of 9th graders, 3.2% of 10th graders, 4.2% of 11th graders, and 9.8% of 12th graders reported using methamphetamine at least once during their lifetimes. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Online: Comprehensive Results, 2008)

Drug Endangered Children

According to the El Paso Intelligence Center’s Clandestine Laboratory Seizure System, preliminary data show that there were 4 children affected by methamphetamine laboratories in South Dakota during 2008.  There were 2 children affected by methamphetamine labs in the state during 2007. (El Paso Intelligence Center, Children Affected Summary, report run on February 3, 2009)

The Drug Endangered Children (DEC) section of the METH Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota offers information on how to start a DEC team, mandatory reporting, and a suggested guide to help initial response units protect a child discovered.

Enforcement

There were 10 state and local arrests for the sale/manufacturing of synthetic narcotics (includes methamphetamine) and 38 state and local arrests for the possession of synthetic narcotics in South Dakota during 2007. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Arrests by State, 2007)

During 2008, Federal agencies seized 6.3 kilograms of methamphetamine in South Dakota. (Drug Enforcement Administration, South Dakota State Factsheet, 2009)

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there were 6 methamphetamine lab incidents in South Dakota during 2008. This includes all meth incidents, including labs, dumpsites, and/or chemical and glassware seizures. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Maps of Methamphetamine Lab Incidents)

Number of Meth Lab Incidents, South Dakota, 1999-2008

Year	# of Incidents	Year	# of Incidents
1999	2	2004	31
2000	7	2005	16
2001	18	2006	11
2002	34	2007	7
2003	40	2008	6

During FY 2008, 26.8% of the Federally-sentenced defendants in South Dakota had committed a drug offense. Approximately 46.3% of these drug cases involved methamphetamine. (U.S. Sentencing Commission, Statistical Information Packet: Fiscal Year 2008 State of South Dakota)

Prevention

Methamphetamine has come to the attention of the public through an increasingly aware media, informed public officials from the local to national level, and concerned citizens. Public efforts are underway by law enforcement, politicians, social service agencies and the media to further educate the public to the dangers of methamphetamine use and abuse. (Drug Enforcement Administration, South Dakota State Factsheet, 2009)

The METH Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota (MAPP-SD) is dedicated to increasing the awareness of meth and the problems associated with its use, manufacture and distribution. MAPP-SD provides, at no cost, professional meth awareness and prevention education to groups and organizations on a community, regional and statewide level, and serves as a no-cost, ongoing resource for South Dakota citizens to deal with issues rising from the manufacture, use and distribution of meth.

Treatment

According to data provided to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, during 2007, there were 904 admissions to treatment in South Dakota in which amphetamines were the primary substance of abuse. The admissions represented 5.7% of the total drug and alcohol admissions to treatment in the state. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, State Treatment Data, report run on April 17, 2009)

For information about treatment programs in South Dakota, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Facility Locator service at 800-662-HELP (4357). You can also conduct a search for programs online using SAMHSA’s Treatment Facility Locator Web site.

If you would like to contact the substance abuse agency in the state, please see SAMHSA’s State Substance Abuse Agencies page, which contains links to and contact information for agencies within each state.

Search

Conduct a search of the MethResources database for additional information about methamphetamine in the state.