South Dakota Leads The Nation In Drug Arrest Rates

Staggering new numbers show drug arrests in South Dakota are more than double the average rate in the United States.

New data from RehabNet looks at FBI drug arrest statistics from across all 50 states and found that the Mount Rushmore State recorded 642.9 drug arrests per 100,000 residents, which is the highest in the nation.

South Dakota reported 6,012 drug arrests in 2025, enough to give the state the highest drug-arrest rate in America. And 96% were for possession. Drug offenses also accounted for 13.4% of all reported arrests in South Dakota.

STATES WITH HIGHEST DRUG ARREST RATES (per 100,000 people)

South Dakota: 643
Wyoming: 562
South Carolina: 486
North Dakota: 483
Idaho: 462
Arkansas: 450
Utah: 439
Tennessee: 433
Pennsylvania: 424
Alabama: 407

The national average is 284 arrests per 100,000 people. Massachusetts is the only state with a rate under 100,

STATES WITH LOWEST DRUG ARREST RATES (per 100,000 people)

Massachusetts: 91
Maryland: 102
Ohio: 103
Michigan: 108
Connecticut:111
Florida: 125
Hawaii: 126
Minnesota: 132
Montana: 133
Washington: 138

OTHER FINDINGS

Drug offenses represented about 1 in every 8 reported arrests nationwide in 2025. Reported drug arrests rose 2.1% from 2024.
Ten states accounted for 54.4% of all U.S. drug arrests in 2025. Texas alone made up 11.2%, followed by California at 9.7%
Per capita, Arizona’s drug-arrest rate plunged 28.8%, dropping the state from #3 to #14.
Pennsylvania had the largest drug-arrest share of policing. Drug offenses made up 20.2% of all reported arrests in Pennsylvania in 2025, even as the state’s own arrest count fell 11.6% year over year. It still reported the 3rd-highest number of arrests nationally.

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10 Most Dangerous Cities in South Dakota

Cities on the east and west side of the Missouri River have made the latest list of South Dakota's Most Dangerous Cities for 2021.

Roadsnacks recently released its most 'Dangerous Cities' list and here in The Mount Rushmore state there are a few surprises, especially at the top. To determine the most dangerous cities in the state, Roadsnacks looked at the FBI's report on the latest violent crime, along with property crime statistics.

And surprisingly, the town with the most murders per capita in the state has less than 3,000 residents. Take a look at the list below.

For a look at the detailed list, visit roadsnacks.com Story Source: Roadsncaks