SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead was point blank yesterday morning before the county commission saying a meth epidemic has gripped upper midwest.
Milstead says there's no such thing as a low-risk drug addict.
The sheriff says much of the county's violent crimes can be tied to drug abuse. He says robberies, larcenies from cars, home invasions, burglaries and assaults are mostly the result of a growing meth epidemic. Yet, the sheriff says, there are some who still insist there are low-risk drug offenders.
Milstead says guns are more common now with dealers and buyers, more felony assaults and more users struggling with addiction.
Minnehaha County State's Attorney Aaron McGowan presented the sobering statistics about opioid abuse to the county commission yesterday.
McGowan says nationally, over 120 people die daily as the result of a drug overdose.
McGowan says 35.5 million doses of opiates we prescribed to South Dakotans in 2014. He says that's enough to medicate every adult South Dakotan 24 hours a day for 14 straight days.
McGowan says when addicts can't get painkillers they move on to heroin and meth.
The Minnehaha County Commission asked the sheriff and state's attorney for a briefing on the growing drug problem.