South Dakota Addiction Treatment and Info

The world as a whole is struggling with the drug abuse epidemic. The U.S leads the world in this particular struggle. However even here, there are states that have either seen an unusually high rate of substance abuse, or shown an abnormally high growth of drug and substance abuse cases.

The state of South Dakota is among these. With more than 882,000 residents, it is unsurprising that the state has experienced high rates of drug and alcohol abuse over the past several decades.

Addiction in South Dakota

Home to the renowned landmarks Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument, South Dakota is a large-sized state that has a surprisingly small population. Miles of open prairies flow into the Black Hills National Forest. South Dakota is rich with the history of the Native American tribes who once dominated the land and still reside in the area on reservations.

In recent years, however, South Dakota has seen a spike in illicit drug use across the plains. Predictably, the instances of overdosing have also risen, with a significant number of these being fatal in nature.

Methamphetamine use accounts for a lot of this increase in drug use and abuse, as well as the elevated cases of drug overdosing. Several meth labs and production rings have been uncovered in South Dakota. Vast areas of unoccupied land make these types of labs quite difficult for local law enforcement to locate despite increasing measures to monitor drug trade across the state.

Commonly Abused Substances in South Dakota

There are numerous substances used and abused in the state of South Dakota. However, some of these are admittedly more prevalently abused than others. The information that follows highlights the most common drugs here:

1. Methamphetamine

In 2015, South Dakota police seized 31 pounds of methamphetamine and discovered and dismantled 28 meth labs. There were incredible 2,126 arrests for methamphetamine, which is an alarming statistic considering the sparseness of the local population.

2. Synthetic Drugs

Synthetic drugs have also arrived on the scene in South Dakota. Bath salts - a synthetic drug that produces a stimulating effect similar to cocaine - has been found on individuals arrested for committing violent crimes and suffering from an overdose.

Synthetic marijuana (Spice, K2) has been a popular drug choice among teens. A survey conducted by the South Dakota Health and Drug Administration showed that nearly four percent of high school adolescents had tried the drug at least once in their lifetime.

3. Heroin

Heroin has also been making a comeback in recent years throughout the state of South Dakota. Local authorities who have been tracking these drug trends over the past several decades indicate that rates of heroin use among South Dakota residents reached a peak in the 1980s, and then decreased significantly over the next 20 years.

In the past 5 years, however, rates of heroin use and overdose have been climbing again. Many officials believe the nationwide opioid epidemic and overprescribing of painkillers is to blame for this increasing trend.

4. Marijuana

Over 60% of drug treatment admissions in 2007 were for marijuana abuse. Marijuana was the most commonly cited drug of abuse for those entering treatment. There were 1,959 individuals who entered treatment for marijuana addiction; of that number 73% were males. Unfortunately, the largest age group seeking treatment for marijuana addiction was 12-17 year olds.

5. Stimulants and Amphetamines

Stimulants, including methamphetamines and other opiates were the second most commonly mentioned drugs of abuse for those entering treatment. Methamphetamine and amphetamine abuse is growing. In 2010, according to the TEDS report, 649 people entered treatment for amphetamine dependence.

6. Other Opiates

There were over 350 people who were admitted for treatment of opiate prescription drugs, while 52% of those admitted were female. The largest age group for those admitted for opiates other than heroin was the 21-25 year olds.

7. Alcohol

In 2010 - 2011, about 320 persons entered substance abuse treatment in South Dakota. South Dakota rates for alcohol dependence ranked high for the national average. In 2010, there were 7,013 people that were admitted for alcohol abuse as the primary drug of choice with an additional 4,306 people who used alcohol in combination with a secondary drug.

8. "25i"

Another trending drug among South Dakota teens and young adults is 25i, a synthetic hallucinogen that has similar effects to LSD. While the designer drug has popped up all across the nation since 2010, South Dakota had its first confirmed cases of abuse of the drug in 2015. The drug comes in several forms, including powder and liquid, and is difficult to detect under a drug analysis.

Many young people are attracted to 25i because they believe it's safer to use than drugs like cocaine or ecstasy. However, research has shown that 25i is highly addictive and can lead to violent, erratic behavior and unpredictable physical side effects. Experimenting with hallucinogens like 25i can also lead to an addiction to more dangerous substances in the long run.

Drug Related Injuries and Fatalities in South Dakota

South Dakota ranks below the national average for drug induced deaths. 34 people died from the consequences of drug use in 2007. In the last published report on DEA figures, the 2005 report indicated that there were 16 meth lab seizures. That figure was down nearly by half from the years 2002 and 2003.

The age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths increased significantly in South Dakota from 2013 (6.9 per 100,000) to 2017 (8.5 per 100,000). While the majority of drug overdose deaths in 2017 involved an opioid, overdose deaths involving opioids are not included for the state because the data reported did not meet inclusion criteria

Addiction Prevention in South Dakota

South Dakota offers several initiatives which are designed to curb the growing rates of substance abuse among the locals. Meth has been identified as enemy number one, and as such various efforts have been made to crack down on the drug. Certainly, the meth problem is compounded by imports from other states, as well as Mexico, but the state is doing a good job at suppressing the use of the drug. Some examples of these initiatives include:

a) Assignment of Special Task Forces

South Dakota state officials have worked to stay ahead in the fight against methamphetamines via the use of special task forces that aim to rid the state of meth labs and traffickers. These special units are made up of various law officials and detectives who painstakingly track the prevalence and trade of methamphetamine into South Dakota's more minute communities.

b) The Meth Changes Everything Campaign

The South Dakota Department of Social Services has also created a campaign against methamphetamine use, called Meth Changes Everything. This campaign urges residents to pledge against using meth or other drugs. Stories of how meth use negatively impacted people's lives are a vital part of this campaign, sharing the effects of illicit drug use with those who are most at risk.

c) Creation of New Drug Laws

South Dakota lawmakers also work with hospitals as well as physicians to develop new laws regulating the prescribing of opioid painkillers in a medical setting. These laws make it easier for prescribers to view a patient's recent prescriptions and keep track of individuals seeking out opioids for non-medical use.

Addiction Treatment in South Dakota

In addition to the preventative programs in place, the state has a vast variety of addiction treatment and rehab programs available. These programs offer unique and highly personalized recovery services to admitted clients.

In the year 2010, there were 14,615 individuals who entered drug and alcohol rehabs in South Dakota. 72.1% of these persons that entered alcohol and drug treatment were males and 27.9% were females.

South Dakota ranked among the highest percentage of people abusing illicit drugs or dependence upon alcohol in 2006. That same year, there were 59 alcohol and drug rehabs in South Dakota. This number has been fairly stable since 2002.

24 facilities offered residential drug and alcohol treatment and only one were certified to offer opiate addiction treatment. Patient admissions for abuse of illicit drugs combined with alcohol have gone from 28 % in 1998 to 41% in 2005.

Some of the services that you may expect when you are enrolled any one of these programs include, but are not limited to:

• Aftercare programs
• Alumni programs
• Detox programs
• Inpatient programs
• Intensive outpatient programs
• Intervention services
• Outpatient programs
• Sober living homes

Consider the following categories of substance abuse treatment and rehab services that are available in Wisconsin:

i) Inpatient Addiction Treatment

After a person has completed any necessary detox, it's time to address the psychological and behavioral aspects of addiction in an inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation program.

South Dakota inpatient drug rehab programs offer a residential setting and intensive therapies that help a person address the social, mental, emotional and even spiritual impact of addiction. These tailored therapies help a person to adopt the relapse-prevention and sober-living skills that work best for their needs.

Living on-site at a treatment facility gives each client the chance to be immersed in a therapeutic community. Throughout the course of their day, residents have the chance to build meaningful relationships with staff and fellow treatment participants. These bonds both enhance and inform the recovery process.

ii) Outpatient Addiction Treatment

While the traditional outpatient and intensive outpatient programs effectively provide standalone services for dependency treatment, these programs tend to be more valuable when they are used to support inpatient rehab.

In this capacity, outpatient programs may help a person to adjust to sobriety after receiving treatment. As a step-down service, the outpatient programs assist the person to successfully adjust to changes in lifestyle which are associated with sobriety

iii) Intervention Services

A professional interventionist attends to persons who are close to the person experiencing addiction in a bid to design an intervention. An intervention outlines the toll that drug abuse has taken on the addicted person and those who love and look out for them. It outlines an appropriate plan of treatment, with the ultimate objective of motivating them to actively seek assistance.

iv) Drug and Alcohol Detox Programs

Without professional help and medical support, withdrawal symptoms and cravings may push an addicted person to relapsing. A medical detoxification program provides round the clock medical support as the person's body works on healing. This treatment helps to protect a person from relapsing and it prepares them for the very next stage of treatment.

To help a person so that he or she is more comfortable and to minimize or even prevent withdrawal symptoms and cravings, the appropriate medications may be administered as is needed. Due to withdrawal symptoms that may be potentially dangerous, even lethal, individuals addicted to opioids, benzodiazepines and alcohol ought to consider a detox program.

v) Assessments

Once an individual has made the commitment to getting help for a drug or alcohol addiction, it is often necessary for them to undergo a clinical assessment. These evaluations are often performed by licensed clinicians who are searching for underlying causes of the addiction, identifying any co-occurring disorders and determining the best methods of treatment for each individual.

Individuals assessments are generally performed by the rehab facility itself, but some private psychiatrists and therapists may also offer these assessments. If performed by a private third party, the clinician will then recommend a specific rehab facility or offer suggestions as to which types of treatment may be most successful for each patient.

vi) Addiction Treatment Therapies

Regardless of the drug rehab type you settle for, there is a high probability that you will find the following therapy kinds in place at the addiction recovery facility of your choice:

• 12-step and non-12 support groups
• Addiction education
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Complementary therapies, including equine therapy, yoga, meditation, biofeedback, massage therapy, and journaling
• Coping techniques
• Couples counseling
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Exercise therapy
• External support groups
• Family therapy
• Group therapy meetings
• Individual counseling
• Life skills training
• Nutritional therapy
• Relapse prevention
• Stress management
• Vocational training

Getting Help

Once you realize that you have a substance use and abuse problem and you require help, it is very important that you approach a rehab facility in a bid to treat your problem. People that attend rehab as early as possible make up the bulk of the drug rehabilitation success stories. The earlier you access a South Dakota rehab program and begin treatment, the higher your chances of completely readjusting to sobriety and normal function are.

CITATIONS

https://afmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/OADAP_SEOW-2017-State-Report-Book_v3.3PRINT.pdf

https://www.carnevaleassociates.com/our-work/emerging-drug-trends-prevention-issue-brief.html

https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2018-11/DIR-032-18%202018%20NDTA%20final%20low%20resolution.pdf

https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/news-statistics/emerging-drug-trends

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234579/

https://www.shadac.org/publications/50-state-analysis-drug-overdose-trends-evolving-opioid-crisis-across-states

https://www.unodc.org/documents/wdr/WDR_2010/2.0_Drug_statistics_and_Trends.pdf

https://www.addictioncenter.com/rehabs/south-dakota/

https://www.drugabuse.gov/opioid-summaries-by-state/south-dakota-opioid-summary

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