Thursday’s State of the County luncheon included an overview of the Beadle County Sheriff Office. Sheriff Doug Solem spent several minutes talking about the impact of the meth epidemic on the county.
Solem says it is filling the Beadle County jail.
Solem says the drug problem costs taxpayers money, beyond just feeding and transporting inmates.
The toll meth takes on the addict has created another cost for the county.
The Beadle County Drug Court was created over three years and the sheriff says it is an effective way to combat addiction.
Solem says the program takes about 18 months and there have been several success stories.