State investigators probe drugs at mental health hospital
State authorities have launched an investigation into the presence of controlled substances at South Dakota's state-run mental health hospital in Yankton.
Attorney General Marty Jackley declined to share specifics about what his office is looking for because it is an ongoing investigation.
“It’s generally speaking a controlled substance investigation,” Jackley said.
The news comes two weeks after the Yankton County Sheriff's Office was called to investigate an incident in which methamphetamine was brought in the Human Services Center.
Investigation: Patient attacks take toll on state mental hospital
Yankton County Sheriff Jim Vlahakis said the incident involved a patient who had been using methamphetamine. The incident was still under investigation.
The Department of Social Services, which oversees the state mental health hospital, was declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
An Argus Leader Media investigation this year found attacks on employees by patients contributing to a rise in workers' compensation claims and employee retention problems.
The hospital provides alcohol and drug chemical dependency treatment to adults in South Dakota. According the Department of Social Services website, the program is designed to meet the physical, mental and social needs of each person seeking treatment within a safe and therapeutic environment.
The executive director of Sioux Falls’ chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Phyllis Arends said this incident might call for the hospital to take a closer look at it security measures.
Arends said she could sympathize with hospital if it were an isolated incident, but given that fact that state has launched an investigation, it shows that there are problem with the system that still need to be addressed.
Officials at the Human Services Center recently updated the patient admission policy to better protect staff and other patients. Under the new policy, when a patient is admitted to the hospital, staff will ask the person to disrobe and change into scrubs in view of the staff member. They will have all their vital signs taken and go through an orientation.
If the patient refuses to comply, he or she will undergo a normal search procedure without changing clothes.
“Hopefully someone is looking at all of their policies and procedures to make sure all their patients are safe,” Arends said.