Like in other states, methamphetamine addiction in South Dakota has also reached perilous levels. Until about ten years ago, methamphetamine was not even present in the state, but within this much time, the popularity of the drug has grown to such heights that it is now being considered a much bigger threat to the state than even heroin. The larger problem is that most of the methamphetamine addiction in South Dakota is concentrated among the younger population, which is of the age group of 18 to 25 years. This is what is making the problem quite an incurable blight on the state.

Here we take a look at some aspects of methamphetamine addiction in South Dakota, including how the drug is sourced into the state and what measures are being taken by the rehab centers in order to contain and control the problem.

How does Methamphetamine come in South Dakota?

Though methamphetamine is quite prevalent in almost all regions of South Dakota, it is much more prominently present in the remote areas of the state where small clandestinely operating labs are producing a significant amount of the substance. Though most of these small toxic labs produce as little as one ounce of the substance per day, their sheer number is making this source quite significant. The reason why these small labs are able to produce significant amounts of these substances is because the raw materials needed for the purpose are easily available from supply stores meant for the agricultural community, from hardware stores, truck stores and even a few department stores. The chemicals used are quite common, such as cough syrups containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, lantern fuel, antifreeze, ammonia fertilizer, etc. Today, these small toxic labs are playing a major role in bringing a steady supply of methamphetamine in the state.

The other source is through trafficking. South Dakota is on the network of methamphetamine routing throughout the nation. It is connected to supply chains from states such as Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas and Iowa, with Sioux Falls in the last mentioned state being a very significant source. It is found that specific ethnic communities indulge in methamphetamine sourcing and routing throughout the state. These are people (mostly men) of Caucasian and Hispanic origin.

Trafficking also occurs through direct shipments from some outstate areas. These include Denver, Phoenix, San Diego and San Francisco. The surprising element here is that this kind of shipping is done without much security, and by using very common couriering agencies such as UPS and FedEx.

What are the Measures Taken for Controlling Methamphetamine Addiction in South Dakota?

As already mentioned, the primary victims of methamphetamine addiction in South Dakota are young persons. There is a reason for this. Once the methamphetamine has been produced by these small toxic labs strewn across the state, it is supplied to the places where these youth hang out. The youth are definitely the most vulnerable part of the population of the state. Methamphetamine is definitely a desirable club drug for them because of the rapid high that it produces. The drug is known to have its effects much earlier and spontaneously than other drugs and it also has a slight aphrodisiac effect which makes it all the more desirable.

There are several specific meth treatment centers established in the state today. These centers are targeted at treating the problems of the young people, within the age groups of 18 to 25 years. The centers have custom designed treatment methods and methods of counseling that can help bring these people towards their recovery.

Meth detox is an important part of all meth treatment processes. Detoxification happens when the methamphetamine present in the body of the person is tried to be removed. This is done by making the person abstain from methamphetamine completely in a medically monitored clinical setting and then handling the withdrawal effects that occur. The withdrawal effects are controlled till such time as the person is completely pulled out of them. When that happens, it is considered that the person is out of the methamphetamine dependency.

However, it is not easy to implement methamphetamine treatment. Due to the highly addictive nature of the drug, the person will be strongly attached to the substance. The detoxification process will take a considerable amount of time, and will run much longer than other forms of detoxification in the state. As an example, while alcohol detox can be completed within seven days maximum, a detoxification process for methamphetamine addiction in South Dakota will take as much as a month.