Governor Rounds Proclaims May 2006 Methamphetamine Awareness Month
Governor Rounds Proclaims May 2006 Methamphetamine Awareness Month
Gov. Mike Rounds has proclaimed May as Methamphetamine Awareness Month in his continuing effort to stop the manufacture, sale and use of meth in South Dakota.
Methamphetamine continues to be a serious problem, affecting every segment of our society. Especially affected are high school age students. That is why Gov. Rounds visited five schools across South Dakota on May 3rd and 4th to kick-off the state's latest effort, Face Facts: Meth Makes You Ugly, a campaign to curb this growing problem.
"Individuals that use meth run the risk of experiencing major medical, psychological, legal and job related problems," said Gov. Rounds. "Not only does methamphetamine pose serious and potentially deadly risk to the user, clandestine methamphetamine labs pose a serious risk to those who inadvertently come into contact with the chemicals used in its production. High concentrations of the chemicals can cause severe health problems, including lung damage and burns."
This illegal drug continues to be a serious threat to South Dakotans and the governor is calling on all citizens to help stop it. To be successful in combating this issue, we need:
* law enforcement to continue their efforts of identification and eradication of clandestine methamphetamine labs and their efforts at stopping the import of this drug into South Dakota;
* communities to mobilize and not allow methamphetamine to be sold and used in their towns;
* to educate our citizens, especially the youth, on the dangers of this drug;
* to have effective treatment available to those that are addicted and need help.
To gain an understanding of this growing problem one only has to take a look at the statistics involved.
* In 2001, 10 percent of all adults who sought state funded inpatient treatment services indicated that methamphetamine was their primary substance of abuse.
* In the first half of 2006, the number of individuals needing residential treatment due to their methamphetamine use rose to 45 percent. This number includes 487 adults, 72 youth under the age of 18 and 27 pregnant women.
* Within the Department of Corrections during this same time frame, 16 percent of the males and 40 percent of the females were identified as having a methamphetamine problem.
* In 2005 16 percent of the new HIV cases in South Dakota were related to Intravenous Drug Use which is the primary route of use by methamphetamine addicted individuals.
Other actions have been taken over the last several years to combat this problem.
In 2003, Gov. Rounds appointed a Statewide Methamphetamine Task Force to develop and coordinate a statewide strategy to mitigate this growing national epidemic. The Legislature, in 2005 and 2006, passed laws ensuring that potential "meth cooks" would have a harder time getting their hands on pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, two major ingredients in the production of meth.
Awareness through information sharing and education is being provided in partnership by the Task Force, the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and the METH Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota (MAPP-SD) throughout South Dakota for First Responders, Law Enforcement Officers, Realtors, and Business Owners, on the many dangers of meth.
For more information regarding treatment services, contact the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse at (800) 265-9684 or locally at (605) 773-3123. For more awareness of the methamphetamine problem or information about the campaign, visit MAPP-SD website at www.mappsd.org. If you are interested in receiving additional materials or would like a meth prevention speaker to visit your organization, call South Dakota's METH Awareness and Prevention Project, 800-343-9272.
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Note: Executive Proclamation follows:
Executive Proclamation
State of South Dakota
Office of the Governor
Whereas, Methamphetamine is a serious problem that affects every segment of our society. It is a dangerous, addictive drug that devastates the lives of adults, children and families; and,
Whereas, Methamphetamine destroys the abuser both mentally and physically and it also destroys the abuser's family; and,
Whereas, Methamphetamine produced in homes, apartments, hotels and motels creates toxic waste and a risk of fire, explosion and long-term contamination; and,
Whereas,Wherever one finds methamphetamine, one also finds identity theft, burglary, violence, child abuse and neglect; and,
Whereas, Anyone can become addicted to meth, regardless of his or her economic status, upbringing or potential; and,
Whereas, The meth epidemic in South Dakota places an undue burden on the state's public safety, human services, education and employment services; and,
Whereas,An understanding of the tragic consequences associated with methamphetamine is crucial to its eradication. We need the support of the entire community, not simply law enforcement, in order to solve this problem and to increase prevention, education and treatment; and,
Whereas,The manufacture, sale and use of methamphetamine in South Dakota must be stopped:
Now, Therefore, I, M. Michael Rounds, Governor of the state of South Dakota, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2006 as
METHAMPHETAMINE AWARENESS MONTH
in South Dakota.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the state of South Dakota, in Pierre, the Capital City, this Twenty-sixth Day of April in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.
M. Michael Rounds, Governor
Attest:
Chris Nelson, Secretary of State
http://www.state.sd.us/governor/