As is the case in so many states out West, South Dakota is struggling against the toxic effects of methamphetamine use. Meth is the most widely abused illegal drug in the state, and as we all know it’s not only very addictive, but it has some nasty side effects. According to South Dakota’s drug and alcohol treatment centers, admissions for meth addiction doubled in just the two years between 2004 and 2006. The state has launched many initiatives to combat the spread of methamphetamine abuse, but while it is making progress, there is still a long way to go. South Dakota is near the bottom of the list of states where perceived risk of alcohol abuse is concerned. The statistics for drug and alcohol use in South Dakota show us what many other studies have shown- the earlier a person starts drinking or using drugs, the more likelihood they have of getting addicted. There were just over fifteen thousand people admitted to South Dakota’s drug and alcohol rehab centers in 2008, and 92% of them said they’d started their substance abuse before they turned 21.

Alcohol is responsible for the majority of admissions to South Dakota’s drug and alcohol centers, and it was a reason for just over half of all adolescent admissions and twelve thousand out of the total number of admissions. Because alcohol is legal and widely available, it can’t really be eradicated. Only a third of the people of South Dakota see excessive drinking as a risk, compared with a national average just over forty percent.

State Of South Dakota Client Service Summary, Fiscal Year 2008

South Dakota Department of Human Services

Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

There were fifty eight drug and alcohol rehab facilities in South Dakota as of 2006, and with the problems within the state they all have their work cut out for them. Seventy percent of all centers in the state are publicly funded, meaning that they are available to everyone. Almost all of South Dakota’s rehab centers are privately owned, either for or not-for-profit. Six of them are owned by various tribal governments. Most people seeking help will end up going to one of those “private” centers, so don’t let the designation fool you.

In spite of the fact that help is widely available, those looking for drug treatment in South Dakota should know that every facility isn’t the same. Most of them work on an outpatient basis, which isn’t enough for the people with the most severe addictions. Those residents will need treatment in one of South Dakota’s 24 residential treatment centers.

For those with opiate addictions, help is harder to find in South Dakota. Drug rehab programs that use buprenorphine or methadone are rare in the state, with only one facility and two doctors certified to use those treatment methods. South Dakotans looking for opiate addiction treatment will either have to drive a little further, or go out of state to get help.

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