By Brandon Bennett
STURGIS—Editor’s Note: I was told that if I discussed the war on illegal drugs in Sturgis it would put the community in a bad light. I submit to you that not talking about it will not magically make it go away. So here we go.
Meade County News was interviewing Sturgis Director of Public Safety Geody Vandewater and Meade County Sheriff Pat West about rally prep. Then the topic changed to the battle with Meth.
The response to the question how’s it going surprised even me.
“This battle is ongoing, and now we’re dealing with Fentanyl. It’s been rearing its head for a few years and I think we’re seeing the same thing everyone else is seeing,” said Vandewater.
He added it appears the same people bringing it are using it and it’s getting out of hand.
Sheriff West stated,
“With Fentanyl it touches other drugs too. Whatever drug is used is tainted with Fentanyl and it’s intentional. What you think are prescription pills are laced with the drug ,” he said.
Additionally, authorities in Rapid City have seen marijuana cigarettes with Fentanyl added.
Both officials stated that first responders are at risk too since the drug is so deadly.
“In the last ten years I’ve had two officers exposed to Fentanyl during arrests or searches. I had one officer who began to feel funny so he was taken to the hospital and it took two doses of Narcan before he began to come out of it,” said Vandewater.
Fentanyl comes from China and is shipped to Mexico where it’s processed, but…
“What they’ll do is take hundreds of pills and put them in a table and spray the Fentanyl on the pills. You don’t know how much is on the pills. It’s dangerous,” said Sheriff West.
Both officials agree authorities can reduce the amount coming into the country but there will always be demand. Even here.
