SOUTH DAKOTA'S HOME GROWN DRUG EPIDEMIC

Governor Mike Rounds has proclaimed August as Methamphetamine Awareness Month.
"Meth" is considered South Dakota's own "home-grown" epidemic. What follows is
the first of three articles dealing with methamphetamines.

South Dakota, like many states across the country, is struggling to find ways
to combat this latest epidemic. Methamphetamine (Meth) can affect every part of
a community from the criminal or health systems to people moving into a new
apartment encountering chemicals from a Meth lab that was never cleaned up. In
South Dakota, 57 out of 66 counties report problems with Meth use.

Why is it called a "Home Grown Drug Epidemic"?

Because of the emergence and spread of clandestine drug labs. Clandestine labs
have manufactured illicit drugs since at least the 1960s, but the problem has
become much more widespread in the past 10 years or so, largely because of
methamphetamine's growing popularity (Source: US Dept. of Justice "Clandestine
Drug Labs" by Michael S. Scott, Guide No. 16).

* Clandestine "mom and pop" Meth labs can operate from homes, barns, storage
areas, hotel rooms and even car trunks.

* Meth can be made with products easily purchased from pharmacies, hardware and
convenience stores.

* Producers of Meth are highly mobile.

* Meth recipes are readily available via the internet.

Why is the drug so popular?

Meth is easy and inexpensive to produce. Common inexpensive products such as
cold and allergy medications, lye, rock salt, lighter fluid, mason jars and
coffee filters-just to name a few-can be obtained to produce small batches of
Meth.

Meth gives a bigger bang for the buck. Meth users initially experience a short,
intense rush that is followed by a sense of euphoria lasting up to 8 hours.

* Meth is very affordable because the lasting high of the drug is achieved by
using very little.

* Meth can be smoked, snorted, injected, orally ingested, or "eaten" by placing
it on food.

How does Meth affect the community in general?

Clandestine drug labs cause three main types of harm: (1) physical injury from
explosions, fires, chemical burns, and toxic fumes; (2) environmental hazards;
and (3) child endangerment (Source: US Dept. of Justice "Clandestine Drug Labs"
by Michael S. Scott, Guide No. 16).

* Meth presents a substantial risk when "cooking" the drug because it produces
toxic fumes and is potentially explosive.

* It's often manufactured in homes so children and neighbors are placed in
harm's way.

* For every pound of Meth that is manufactured, approximately 6 pounds of waste
products are produced which are toxic to humans, animals and the environment.

* Meth "cooks" have little regard for the environment or for those who may come
into contact with the by-product of this drug dumping toxic chemicals in
ditches or down kitchen sinks.

* Law enforcement officers, paramedics, social workers, even people coming to
do work around the house can be overcome by the toxic fumes.

* Landlords renting to Meth "cooks" can be left to clean up, which is
expensive.

How does Meth affect the user?

Meth users may exhibit signs of agitation, excited speech, decreased appetites,
and increased levels of physical activity. Sudden and violent behavior,
paranoia, and hallucinations may also occur. Withdrawal from high doses of Meth
produces severe depression. Other associated risks are:

* Meth use can lead to tooth decay, tooth loss, skin rash or open sores, acne,
scabs, oily hair or hair loss.

* Meth use can cause a severe "crash" after the effects wear off.

* Meth use can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain.

* Meth users who inject the drug and share needles are at risk for acquiring
HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis.

* Death.

Specifically what is the Meth problem in South Dakota?

In 2001, 10 percent of all adults who sought state-funded inpatient treatment
services indicated that Meth was their primary substance of abuse. In 2002,
the number of adults rose to 17 percent, and as of June 2003, that percentage
has jumped to 33 percent (Source: Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse).

In 2001, there were approximately 355 Meth-related arrests, 17 lab takedowns,
and 17 pounds of Meth seized. During the first six months of 2002, there were
approximately 252 Meth-related arrests, 23 lab takedowns, and 30 pounds of Meth
seized (Source: South Dakota High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area or HIDTA).

Where in South Dakota does this occur?

Fifty-seven out of 66 counties in South Dakota report problems with
Methamphetamine use, based on information from the 2001 calendar year (Source:
Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse).

* Population centers and the surrounding rural areas are the main centers of
Meth production and use.

* The counties experiencing the major impact are located in the eastern and
southeastern corridors and in the Black Hills near Rapid City and Sturgis.

* Meth-related problems are showing an increase in movement from the outside
edges of the state toward the center.

What's being done in South Dakota to combat this issue?

Governor Rounds has proclaimed August as Methamphetamine Awareness Month. The
Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse is hosting the South Dakota Governor's
Summit on Methamphetamine August 19 and 20 in Sioux Falls.

* The Summit is sponsored by: The Drug Enforcement Administration, National
Crime Prevention Council, Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services, and
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

* The Summit is by invitation only and will bring together over 250
participants from various disciplines ranging from local law enforcement
agencies, educators, health care professionals to members of the community to
brainstorm and develop strategies and solutions to deal with this problem in
South Dakota.

Grass roots campaign. Darcy Jensen, a drug prevention and treatment counselor,
saw Meth as the most troubling drug for many of her clients in 1997. With the
help of several concerned individuals and the South Dakota Department of Human
Services' Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, a Meth Task Force in Minnehaha
County was established. In 2000, Prairie View Prevention Services applied for
and was awarded funding through the US Department of Justice. The funds were
used to launch the Methamphetamine Awareness and Prevention Project of South
Dakota (MAPP-SD).