TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
Ask Raven
Siletz Tribal Alcohol & Drug Programs
Raven will answer your questions
about problems associated with alcohol,
tobacco, and other drugs. Look for boxes
in tribal offices with Raven's picture. You
can leave your questions for Raven in
these boxes. Those questions suitable for
Siletz News will be answered here. If you
want a confidential answer to a question,
please leave an address and Raven will
contact {'ou.
n
Dea'r Raven: I used to use white
drugs and before that I drank a lot.
Now I only use weed. It is natural and
some people say it is a medicine. People
who are sick can use it legally. But if I
use this medicine, I get in trouble with
the law or could be fired from my job.
I think this is wrong. Signed, Unsigned
Dear Unsigned: Many plants that
grow are not healthy to eat or smoke.
Marijuana is one of them. There are things
you need to know about marijuana and
its effects.
Marijuana affects the brain and a
person’s ability to solve problems and
make decisions. Marijuana users may
have a lifelong impairment in their abil
ity to have healthy relationships and in
their intellectual development. The results
can mean that they have less ability to
pursue a career, be an effective parent, and
contribute equally as a marriage partner.
People who develop a dependence on
marijuana may have sleep disorders, de
pression, and other mood disorders. When
they try to stop using marijuana, they usu
ally experience cravings for it.
You mentioned that you used to use
other drugs and alcohol. It’s common for
people to stop using one drug and start
using another, including alcohol. This is
called “switching addictions." Participat
ing in a treatment program, either outpa
tient or residential, can help with this.
Treatment will teach you how to live life
free from all drugs (including alcohol).
I encourage you to talk with a coun
selor who can help you learn more about
the effects of marijuana. The counselor
will help you decide if you want to be
drug free and if you do, will help you get
the support you need.
There may be tribes in some parts of
the world where marijuana grows as a
native plant and is used as a medicine.
These cultures would have specially
trained traditional doctors who know how
to use these plants as medicine. They
would not use marijuana for recreational
purposes and to get high. Saying that
marijuana is medicine is an excuse for
abusive and addictive use.
Please write to me again if you have
more questions. Raven
Prevention, Outpatient Treatment, and
Women’s Transitional
Siletz: 1 -800-600-5599 or
541 -444-8286
Eugene: 541-484-4234
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Increased fetal blood pressure (in
creased chance of miscarriage and
placental separation, brain damage,
or stroke)
Agitated withdrawal, low birth
weight, and potential neglect
Sensitivity to stimuli (light, touch, etc.)
Long-term serotonin problems. Sero
tonin is one of the chemicals in the
brain that takes messages to the brain.
This group of chemicals is called neu
rotransmitters. Serotonin's job is to
help control and stabilize moods,
including depression and anxiety,
and stabilize appetite, sleep, and
sexual drive.
Hyperactivity
ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperac
tive Disorder
Learning disabilities
Anger outbursts
If you know someone who is preg
nant and using any illegal drug, please
encourage them to get help, or call and
talk with a counselor who may be able to
help you plan an intervention.
Watch for more information on meth
amphetamine in future issues. If you are
looking for specific information, please
put your questions in the “Ask Raven
boxes that are located in all tribal offices.
We still need adult male volunteers,
even once a year, to chaperone a youth
prevention activity. Please contact us if
you have any interest!
Dec. 7 - Noon
Siletz Tribal Housing Department Conference Room
The Meth Task Force is open to all community members - youth and adults.
If you have questions or need more information, please call Janet or Delina at
54 J -444-8286 or 1 -800-600-5599. You can make a difference!
Please join us!
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Siletz News
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Parents, if you think your child may
be at risk for alcohol, tobacco, or other
drug problems and/or juvenile delin
quency behaviors, please call Delina John
or Jenifer Metcalf at 1-800-600-5599 or
541-444-8286
December 2005
One of them will talk with you about
risk factors and those things that help pro
tect your child from developing those
problems. They will help you make a pre
vention plan that will support you as a
parent and provide your child with sup
port for making good choices.
DeAnna Pearl, Jenifer Metcalf, and Delina John pass out red ribbons that say
“It’s up to me to be drug free!’’ to start Red Ribbon Week activities at
Siletz Valley School in October.
Underage Drinking Awareness
Youth and Alcohol: Know the Facts ...They’re Sobering!
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Men!
Meth Task Force Meeting
8
ATOD and Youth Delinquency Prevention
Methamphetamine, Part 3
Effects of Meth on the Unborn
More and more we are hearing about
women who use meth during their preg
nancies. And we hear about babies who
are born and test positive for meth. The
meth their mothers have taken has been
transferred to the babies and is in their
systems, just as if someone had injected
them with a needle.
We now are discovering some of the
effects meth has on children whose moth
ers used during pregnancy. Here is a list
of some of those effects:
Salem: 503-390-9494
Portland: 503-238-1512
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45 percent of children who start drink
ing before age 15 will become alco
holics at some point in their lives.
Delaying the use of alcohol until the
legal age helps avoid many associated
problems. If the onset of drinking is
delayed by five years, a child’s risk of
serious alcohol problems is cut in half.
Parents’ drinking behaviors and fa
vorable attitudes about drinking have
been associated with adolescents' ini
tiating and continuing alcohol use.
Researchers suggest that children are
less likely to drink when their par
ents are involved in their lives and
when both parents and children re
port feeling close to each other.
Adolescents drink less and have fewer
alcohol-related problems when their
parents discipline them consistently and
set clear expectations about drinking.
Families have a powerful influence
over a young person’s decisions about
whether or not to use alcohol. In tact,
parents’ disapproval is the key reason
children give for not using alcohol.
Be a part of your child’s life. Ask
questions. Give them the facts. Let your
child know that you care!
This Place
Parents and community members
should look for the upcoming underage
drinking awareness film showing of This
Place. It’s a 15-minute film on alcohol-
related topics such as:
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Alcohol and the brain
Adult role modeling
Advertising/sponsorship
Binge drinking
Community environments
Violence
Youth access
People creating change
More details will follow regarding
time and place of film showing. It’s very
important that we as adults know the facts
and become apart of the solution. Show
them that you care!
If you have any questions regarding
underage drinking facts and awareness,
call Delina John, prevention coordinator,
at 1-800-600-5599 or 541-444-8267.
Some Web sites for parents to check
out are listed below:
www.parentingisprevention.org
www.health.org/nacoa
www.theantidrug.com (AOL Keyword:
Drug help)