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Meth Use At 'Crisis Level'
On Reservations

KELO-Land TV

Airdate 04/14/2006

Fewer people are making methamphetamine, but more are using the drug. It sounds like a contradictory statement, but it’s what's happening in South Dakota.

Thursday, state leaders and law enforcement gathered in Sioux Falls to examine the growing problem of meth use. One of the trends discussed: meth trafficking on tribal grounds.

In 2003, 41 meth labs were discovered and 503 people were arrested on meth charges. But those numbers changed dramatically in 2005, when just 17 labs were found but the number of people arrested jumped to 724.

In Flandreau, the police department is all to familiar with this trend. Officers say the majority of meth-related crimes happen on tribal grounds, and they're stepping up their efforts to stop the surge in drug use.

A brown lab named "Cash" is the newest member of the Flandreau Police Department. In just a few weeks, the dog will be certified to sniff out drugs and will help put more meth users behind bars, because right now...

"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," says Flandreau Police Chief Ken James about the problem of meth users in his town.

James says tribal grounds have become "the" place for users to buy and sell meth across South Dakota.

"I think in a lot of other areas you're talking about a high population, a lot of remoteness, a lot of square miles and a lot of checkerboard jurisdiction," James said.

He says its that inconsistent law enforcement that makes it too easy for people to traffic meth. Even in Flandreau, where local police have permission to enforce on reservation land, officers still have a hard time staying on top of drug use, and the other crimes connected with meth.

"With the usage of methamphetamine, you are seeing a high increase of sex abuse on the Indian reservations," James said.

James says adding a K-9 unit will help, but he's going to need even more support if they're going to put a stop to the drug problem they now refer to as "a crisis."

"We can't defeat this problem by ourselves," James said.

James also says it's getting harder to track people with meth, since fewer people are manufacturing it in their homes, which in the past was often how police caught those using the drug.

Matt Belanger
© 2006 KELOLAND TV. All Rights Reserved.

 

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