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State resources
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NATIONAL METHAMPHETAMINE TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
State resources
State resources
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RESOURCES
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The situation: South Dakota appears to be among a handful of states that appears to be effective against its methamphetamine problem. The number of meth labs uncovered by law enforcement is consistently low. High school student use of the drug has fallen dramatically after being one of the worst in the nation (see graphic above). And the number and percentage of drug treatment admissions for methamphetamine fell four straight years before a minor up-tick in 2010.
Meth in South Dakota
-- High school students who say they have used methamphetamine at least once during their life:
Year 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009
9th grade 
6.7% 7.5% 5.7% 5.5% 3.2% 0.9%
6.7% 7.5% 5.7% 5.5% 3.2% 0.9% 10th grade 7.1% 8.5% 6.3% 5.1% 3.2% 1.7%
11th grade 12.2% 11.2% 8.1% 9.3% 4.2% 4.6%
12th grade 15.8% 5.6% 9.2% 9.5% 9.8% 4.1%
Source: Centers for Disease Control survey
-- Clandestine meth lab busts in South Dakota since 2004
Year 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Lab busts 30 16 11 7 6 7 9
Source: El Paso Intelligence Center
-- Number of people admitted to drug treatment for amphetamine-related addictions and the percentage of all admissions that were related to amphetamines (mostly meth).
Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Number 1,346 1,157 911 623 599 646
Percentage 10.0% 7.3% 5.8% 4.1% 4.0% 4.4%
(Note: the national average percentage of meth admissions is 6.3%)
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
-- Seizures of methamphetamine in South Dakota by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Seizure amounts are in kilograms (note: 1 kg. = 2.2 lbs.):
Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Seizures 2.3 2.5 18.8 6.3 4.2 5.3
Source: Drug Enforcement Administration
Speaking of meth
"It's kind of like picking up dandelions out of your yard, you pick one and you've got two or three others popping up somewhere else. I think ... you're talking about a lot of remoteness, a lot of square miles and a lot of checkerboard jurisdictions."
- Flandreau Police Chief Ken James about the problem of meth in his town and on tribal reservations
National crisis line:
800-662-4357
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If you have comments or information to add, please e-mail the National Meth Center
All students 9th grade 10th grade 11th grade 12th grade
Source: Centers for Disease Control survey
Student meth use falls below national average
Percentage of students at each grade level who say they used meth at least once:
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-1999 - 2009
10.4%
2.7%
6.7%
0.9%
7.1%
1.7%
12.2%
4.6%
15.8%
4.1%