When he announced his candidacy for Governor yesterday, Representative Jamie Smith (D-15/Sioux Falls) reminded us of Governor Kristi Noem’s many foibles, including her infamous “Meth. We’re On It™” campaign. Back in 2019, Smith first thought Noem’s anti-drug slogan was a joke:
“I was in an e-board meeting in Pierre actually and started getting some text messages from people,” Rep. Smith said. “And at first, I couldn’t really believe that was actually the message that we were putting out. I thought it was a joke. But, when I looked at it seriously, it really was our ad campaign” [Jill Langland, “State Lawmakers React to ‘Meth. We’re On It.’ Campaign,” KSFY, 2019.11.19].
Two years later, Noem’s anti-meth campaign is still a joke. And more of our young people are on meth and other drugs:
Darcy Jensen, the executive director of Prairie View Prevention in Sioux Falls, says 11 percent of all overdoses between 2011 and 2020 in South Dakota were people aged 15 to 24.
“When we look at those numbers, we know that eleven percent of our young people in South Dakota overdosed and died. And that’s way too many kids to lose,” Jensen said.
She says recently there’s been an increase in young people using meth, heroin and fentanyl [Lauren Soulek, “Experts: More Young People in SD Are Turning to Drugs,” KELO-TV, 2022.02.01].
KOTA-AM speaks with a Rapid City pot dealer who says she could easily add meth to her inventory:
One individual is “J”, a Rapid City-based drug dealer who describes herself as relatively low on the ladder of drug suppliers in West River – primarily selling marijuana.
J says for her, a person without a degree working a lower-wage job, it’s a matter of making ends meet.
“The working industry here sucks,” J said. “I don’t do what I do for fun are because I am a gangster or because I’m a thug. It is literally how I pay my rent.”
J said she is “uncomfortable” with how easy it is to acquire harder drugs in Rapid City, saying – if she wanted to – she could have a commercial amount of meth within a week [C.J. Keene, “‘It’s How I Pay My Rent’—The Reality of Low-Level Drug Dealing in West River,” KOTA-AM, 2022.02.01].
Hmm… let’s recall Judge Tim Bjorkman’s perceptive discourse on how bad home life and a lack of education, counseling, and treatment services trap young people in a cycle of addiction and crime. Could it be that in her chronic, self-absorbed neglect of South Dakota’s real problems, Noem has left more families in worse situations, with more stress and less social support and economic opportunity, thus making worse the conditions that lead to increased despair and drug use?
Maybe as Governor, Jamie Smith would actually get on that, not by spending $1.4 million on a slogan, but by implementing real, practical policies to help all South Dakotans live better.
I think Marijuana is being kept illegal because the alcohol industry makes huge political contributions. But, I could be wrong.
Not to downplay the facts but…I suspect the quoted statement should be:
When we look at those numbers, we know that eleven percent of those who overdosed and died in South Dakota were young people…. instead of:
“When we look at those numbers, we know that eleven percent of our young people in South Dakota overdosed and died. And that’s way too many kids to lose,” Jensen said.”
Still shocking that this killer Meth and Fentanyl are so easily obtained and consumed with no concern for survival.
Video lootery, Deadwood, Sturgis and meth are inextricably linked so anyone who believes anything but more jails and more Hamsters is in South Dakota’s future isn’t a banker.
South Dakota is the North Korea of Montanas.
“Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit smoking meth.” – Governor Kristi Noem upon learning yet another piece of her signature legislative agenda just crashed and burned in committee, at the hands of her own Republican leadership.
Yep, she’s on it, alright.
Tim Bjorkman simply left the building after his loss that was our big loss. The guy had a strong message, but not enough cash to take on the golden boys. What an improvement he would have made over the current crooked bunch of outlaws.
‘Meth, we’re on it. But only because its cheaper than food.’
Well…if you have no idea how to organize and implement a drug prevention program…if you will not spend money on treatment…spend a million plus on a catchy (and inane) slogan…your government at work.
We blame the docs, we blame the pharmacists, the drug companies, and even our neighbors to the south, yet no one ever speaks of personal responsibility. No drug or sex education in schools by the pubs because then the kids will know these things exist and want to try them.
Education is the key to ignorance for the young ones and for the foolish rest, you just cannot fix stupid. Let covid do its work.
The problem of drugs and addiction is very easy to pin point. The more maternal stress in a person’s life the more likely that person is to become addicted to something; normally the cheapest, easiest substance to procure., which numbs or kills the emotional/psychological pain. The maternal stress when a person is in utero sets a person up for hypersensitive fight/flight responses throughout life. One of the main sources of maternal stress is financial, Many women of child bearing age are employed in low wage, no benefit, dead end jobs; some with little financial assistance from the sperm donor. I don’t wonder why people become addicted, I know. Also, sure people could reduce the stress by leaving South Dakota, but so many are too poor or so poorly educated, they are stuck here. It amazes me so many claim right to life, yet are unwilling to promote what is necessary for that life to be healthy once it is out of the womb. Several things which help reduce stress issues are Universal Basic Income, Universal Health Care, Universal Child Care. I really am weary of the story of everyone pulling themselves up by their bootstraps, actually it is a myth. This really touches a nerve for me. Tim Bjorkman was right in all ways that should matter in a state which claims to be Christian.
Whatever a person’s situation in life, i believe we should promote treatment plans. Too many native women get tossed in prison with no treatment for addictions. Many young parents are there also with children at home. “Governors or anybody” with education should know better. We need to “push judges” to promote treatment. Otherwise same same. Some of the best minds are addicted and need help. Prisons are too full with people who can be helped successfully.
I really get fed up with people who judge other races or a class of people. Why they do that is the question. Some poor people get educated and never do alcohol or illegal drugs. They raise their children just fine. They have a career. Then someone comes along to Belittle, grrrr. Reminds me of a bully.
It was all about the follow-up.
Noem’s team is not doing the work .. it would mean going up against gangs (foreign and domestic) and putting LE in harm’s way.
Tough nut.
But still needs more follow-up.
“More” follow-up? How about any follow-up? What additional anti-meth initiatives are taking place right now, and what progress are they making?
Noem has been all image and no substance since her first campaign.
Good morning, my name is M and I’m an alcoholic. Some people tell me I was born this way while others blame my socioeconomics or lack of personal control. One thing is for sure, people who aren’t in my situation will never fully understand.
To me, substance abuse is a medical issue and should be treated holistically, including in house therapy if necessary.
Go to a grocery store on a Sunday morning before a football game. What do you see? 50% of those in line are men buying beer, and not just a 6 pack. Maybe they are just occasional drinkers, but I think otherwise. Unfortunately for some, it’s something to do which then becomes a habit.
If treatment facilities are built, then we have to admit that a problem exits and that won’t happen here so we just jail people instead.