PIERRE, S.D. — A statewide needs assessment commissioned by the South Dakota Department of Social Services recommends directing opioid settlement funds toward improving services for people entering and leaving prisons and jails.
The $325,000 assessment, designed to help guide the state’s investment of opioid settlement dollars, found significant gaps in programs and support available to individuals struggling with addiction within the justice system.
The findings were presented to the Legislature’s budget committee in Pierre, where officials highlighted the need for better treatment, recovery and reentry services for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.
The report concluded that addressing those deficiencies should be a priority as South Dakota allocates opioid settlement funding to combat addiction and improve outcomes for one of the state’s highest-need populations.
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