We've told you about the rising increase in crime in Sioux Falls, but the city isn't alone.
Crime is up in a lot of communities across the state and according to law enforcement, in most cases, meth is at the root of it all.
Meth is highly addictive and judging by police numbers, it's no longer just a law enforcement problem.
"This is a public health problem, as well, the impact is far reaching into our communities," Sioux Falls Chief of Police Matt Burns said.
As part of their week-long awareness campaign by city officials in both Sioux Falls and Rapid City, authorities say enough is enough.
Meth addicts aren't just ruining their lives, they're ruining others, along with having a direct impact on our communities.
"They set aside things like commitment to family, commitment to work, things that used to mean something to the addict, means very little except to get their next high," Burns said.
Police say to feed that addiction, users have committed crimes that result in shootings, robberies and burglaries.
Last year, Sioux Falls police confiscated over 9 pounds of meth, made 777 arrests for possession and another 69 for distribution - up substantially from the year before.
In Rapid City, officers had a record 1,349 drug arrests. But even more alarming, the city recorded nine murders.
"I can tell you that a majority of those have a distinct access to meth in our state," Rapid City Chief of Police Karl Jegaris said.
Ironically, the number of busts on meth labs has gone down. Authorities say the majority of the meth in South Dakota now is coming in from drug cartels in Mexico.
And it's affecting our crime rate.
"Violent crime has doubled in the past five years in the state of South Dakota and it's the highest it's been in the past decade," Jegaris said.
To bring those numbers down, police say it's going to take a collaborative effort from law enforcement, legislators and community leaders across the state to put an end to this troubling trend.
Chief Jegaris says three of their four officer involved shootings last year had a direct connection to meth use.
Crime is up in a lot of communities across the state and according to law enforcement, in most cases, meth is at the root of it all.
Meth is highly addictive and judging by police numbers, it's no longer just a law enforcement problem.
"This is a public health problem, as well, the impact is far reaching into our communities," Sioux Falls Chief of Police Matt Burns said.
As part of their week-long awareness campaign by city officials in both Sioux Falls and Rapid City, authorities say enough is enough.
Meth addicts aren't just ruining their lives, they're ruining others, along with having a direct impact on our communities.
"They set aside things like commitment to family, commitment to work, things that used to mean something to the addict, means very little except to get their next high," Burns said.
Police say to feed that addiction, users have committed crimes that result in shootings, robberies and burglaries.
Last year, Sioux Falls police confiscated over 9 pounds of meth, made 777 arrests for possession and another 69 for distribution - up substantially from the year before.
In Rapid City, officers had a record 1,349 drug arrests. But even more alarming, the city recorded nine murders.
"I can tell you that a majority of those have a distinct access to meth in our state," Rapid City Chief of Police Karl Jegaris said.
Ironically, the number of busts on meth labs has gone down. Authorities say the majority of the meth in South Dakota now is coming in from drug cartels in Mexico.
And it's affecting our crime rate.
"Violent crime has doubled in the past five years in the state of South Dakota and it's the highest it's been in the past decade," Jegaris said.
To bring those numbers down, police say it's going to take a collaborative effort from law enforcement, legislators and community leaders across the state to put an end to this troubling trend.
Chief Jegaris says three of their four officer involved shootings last year had a direct connection to meth use.