Meth addiction is no laughing matter

Tuesday, December 3, 2019  

Governor Kristi Noem and the State of South Dakota spent $449,000 on an ad campaign that was intended to point out the evils of using Meth.

“Meth, we’re on it,” was one of the key points of the ad. This huge sum of money was paid to a Minneapolis ad agency. Consider the fact that there are only 882,235 people living in South Dakota. But if the ad is working, so what?

Gov. Noem said that the ad a “bold, innovative effort like the nation has never seen before.” She probably has a point there. Noem continued, “The mission of the campaign is to raise awareness; to get people talking about how then can be a part of the solution and not just the problem. It is working.”

On behalf of Governor Noem, the South Dakota Department of Tribal Relations was honored to Co-Host with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe the second State-Tribal Meth Summit held at Sinte Gleska University, Rosebud Sioux Tribe. When it comes to combating Meth, WE’RE ON IT!#OyateOverMeth pic.twitter.com/IbxPDI9Tqu

— SD Tribal Relations (@TribalSD) November 22, 2019

Bill Pearce, assistant dean at the University of California at Berkeley’s Hass School of Business quipped, “There’s another trope that goes, ‘When they’re running you out of town, pick up a baton and pretend you’re leading the parade, and that’s what this feels like.”

We all understand that there is a terrible and costly drug issue facing South Dakota residents. The dependents on meth and other cheap drugs has led to an upsweep in crime and illness. Although there are hundreds of jobs available in South Dakota it appears that the meth epidemic is preventing many young people from stepping up and filling those job positions.

Let’s face it, Noem is right. Something has to be done to bring the meth epidemic to an end and she has every right to try every means at her disposal to see that this happens. As governor she can see the financial drain on state institutions, the courts and law enforcement as they fight to end this disease.

It appears that the ad campaign has made a laughing stock of the residents of South Dakota across the country, but at least Noem is making a sincere effort to win this battle. Perhaps she could have done a bit more consultation with other ad agencies and come up with a different ad campaign.

Contact the Editorial Board of Native Sun News Today at editor@nativesunnews.today

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On November 22, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the South Dakota Office of Tribal Relations hosted the second Tribal-State Summit on Meth.

We are honored to announce the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in partnership with the SDDTR will be hosting a Tribal-State Meth Summit 2. We look forward to continuing to work together to enhance our combined efforts in combating meth.#OyateOverMeth#SDMethSummit2#CombinedForces pic.twitter.com/ZmaW0EB8Wn

— SD Tribal Relations (@TribalSD) November 19, 2019