South Dakota Drug Rehabs

South Dakota Addiction Treatment

The recent overdose surge in South Dakota is linked to drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) who transport substances across and within state lines. Many DTOs have refocused their distribution efforts in the state’s major cities, like Sioux Falls, to take advantage of the growing number of South Dakota teens looking to experiment with drugs.

Black tar heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana account for the majority of the state’s drug supply, which is imported primarily from the northwest and Canada via commercial trucks and private vehicles.

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.

Even trying a drug just once can result in a spiraling substance abuse disorder. Each year, South Dakota residents seek treatment for an addiction to one or more of the following substances:

1. Alcohol
2. Marijuana
3. Heroin
4. Stimulants, like methamphetamine
5. Other opiates, including prescription drugs
6. Cocaine

If you or someone you love is battling a substance abuse disorder, we can help you win the fight. Call us now to find a rehab that can give you the tools you need for a lasting recovery.

Break free from addiction.

You have options. Talk about them with a treatment provider today.

(870) 515-4356

Laws Of South Dakota Drug Abuse

South Dakota’s judicial court is tough and unforgiving when it comes to handling drug-related crimes. Offenses for possessing, selling or producing drugs are met with steep fines, lengthy prison sentences or a combination of both.

To determine the right penalties for drug offenses in South Dakota, substances are categorized into one of four schedules according to their probability of abuse and accepted use in a medical setting.

Schedule I drugs include heroin, dextromoramide, benzethidine, phenomorphan and methaqualone. These drugs have the highest potential for abuse and no accepted medical use in the U.S.

Schedule II drugs have a high probability of abuse and accepted medical use under severe restrictions. Examples of schedule II drugs include fentanyl and methadone.

Schedule III drugs are considered less addictive than schedule I or II substances, but are well-documented and approved for medical use. This category includes stimulants like ephedrine and benzphetamine.

Schedule IV drugs have a lower potential for abuse and are fully acceptable in a medical setting. Drugs in this category include benzodiazepines, like alprazolam.

Possessing, selling or manufacturing any amount of a drug listed under schedule I or II is a Class 4 Felony, punishable by a fine no more than $20,000 and up to ten years in prison. However, the sentence is increased to a Class 3 Felony (up to 15 years in prison and $30,000 in fines) if law enforcement find the following at the scene:

1. A firearm, knife or other dangerous handheld weapon.
2. At least $300 in cash.
3. Bulk materials used to package drugs.
4. Recipes, precursor chemicals, lab materials, ventilation or any other equipment used for manufacturing or cultivating.
5. Drug transaction records or customer lists.

If the schedule I or II drug offense involved selling to a minor, the offender can face a Class 2 Felony – up to 25 years in prison, and $50,000 in fines.

Crimes involving schedule III or IV aren’t taken any more lightly. Violations for schedule III drugs can result in a Class 5 Felony, or five years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Schedule IV drug offenses come with a Class 6 Felony conviction – up to two years in prison and $4,000 in fines.

Marijuana Laws

It’s illegal to possess, sell or cultivate marijuana in any type or form in South Dakota. No matter the type of offense, violators can expect to spend a considerable amount of time in prison and pay a steep fine.

Here’s a breakdown of South Dakota’s penalties for marijuana offenses:

South Dakota also enforces an “internal possession” standard. According to state law, you can be arrested for having marijuana in your system – even if you ingested it in another state where recreational use of the drug is legal, like Colorado.

Addiction Treatment Laws In South Dakota

Much like the rest of the United States, fatal overdoses from heroin or opioid abuse have devastated South Dakota residents. As a response, new legislation is being put into place to help those at risk of an overdose get into treatment.

In 2015, South Dakota passed Senate Bill 14 – the state’s first naloxone access law – which allows medical first responders to carry naloxone with them in case of an opioid overdose.

Another law was passed in 2016 allowing family members, friends and loved ones of someone at risk of an opioid overdose to be prescribed the drug.

Naloxone has been used countless times throughout the nation to save people’s lives from a heroin, morphine or other type of opioid overdose. However, Naloxone does not reverse an addiction to opioids. After a person recovers in the emergency room, they’re encouraged to seek treatment to keep an overdose from happening again.

Methadone maintenance programs are another vital component of South Dakota’s approach to opioid addiction treatment. It works by reducing the withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to heroin or opioids without causing the “high” associated with those drugs. Methadone has proven to work well as part of a heroin or opioid detox program, and it’s often part of a person’s ongoing recovery from addiction. There are currently two methadone maintenance centers in South Dakota.

South Dakota’s 27/4 Sobriety Program

Having a drug or alcohol dependence can impose enormous health risks and potentially lead to an addiction. Some people resort to criminal behavior as a result of alcohol or drug abuse, including robbery, domestic violence and driving under the influence. South Dakota’s 24/7 Sobriety program works to address these issues and get people’s lives back on track.

Once an offender is convicted of an alcohol or drug-related offense, they’re given the option to participate in the program in lieu of imprisonment. Participants are required to take a twice-a-day breathalyzer or drug test, or wear an alcohol monitoring bracelet or patch. If they fail or skip a test, they go to jail.

Since its launch in 2005, the program has had over 42,000 participants and a graduation rate of 99.1 percent. Graduates from the program have been shown to have less rates of recidivism or crime than nonparticipants.

Find Treatment In South Dakota

The South Dakota Department of Social Services coordinates and licenses addiction treatment centers across the state. People can choose from a variety of inpatient or outpatient services to fit their recovery needs.

Among these treatment services is the Gateway Adult Chemical Dependency Program. The program is operated by South Dakota’s Human Services Center (HSC) and is partially funded by Medicaid and the state. Treatment is based on the principles of 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, and the length of a person’s stay is based on progress made toward recovery.

In order to qualify for the program, a patient must be a South Dakota resident, have a substance addiction diagnosis and be 18 years or older. Patients will also need to complete a separate detox program and be drug-free 72 hours prior to admission.

Should You Travel For Rehab?

Thanks to programs like the Gateway Adult Chemical Dependency Center, many people in South Dakota have found their way back on the path toward recovery. But everyone is different. Sometimes a program that works for someone else might not be ideal for you. That’s why it’s important to explore all treatment options, including the ones far from home.

Those willing to travel for treatment have many more options to choose from, allowing them to be more selective when choosing the right center. Traveling for rehab is also an effective way to put distance between yourself and the environment that once caused your addiction.

You don’t have to let your addiction control your life any longer. Contact a treatment provider now to talk about rehab options.