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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2006)
TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS Ask Raven 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 you. Dear Raven: It seems the meth lah problem is somewhat maintained in Siletz and Lincoln County. Now the problem is the users and abusers. I see the same people doing the same thing. They stop doing things only to take on prescription pills and alcohol. Us Na tives cannot drink. What can we do? Signed, Part of the Solution Dear Part of the Solution: There is a big difference between people who abstain from alcohol or other drugs for a period of time and people who are in recovery. When people make a decision to ab stain but do not make other changes in their lives, they often do what is called “switching addictions,” or using another substance to which they have not yet de veloped an addiction. It’s only a matter of time before they become addicted to that substance. A recovery program includes a healthy mind, a healthy body, and a healthy spirit. People who stop alcohol/ other drugs and develop a program of recovery have a good chance of maintain ing a lifetime of recovery from alcohol and other drugs. This is very important for us to talk about and 1 am glad you wrote to me. I hope to hear from others about this. If you are in recovery and have experiences to share, or if you have had problems switch ing from one drug or alcohol to another, please write to me and share your story with your community. Signed, Raven Dear Raven: I have been reading the newsletter on underage drinking. I appreciate the awareness. What’s frus trating is a majority of the underage drinkers in our tribal community have parental consent. How do we reach the tribal parents and community parents to let them know this cannot be toler ated? Signed, Frustrated Dear Frustrated: There are two main reasons that parents will allow their chil dren to drink. The first one is that parents do not have all the information they need. Sci entists who have studied alcoholism for many years have discovered that without Siletz Tribal Alcohol & Drug Programs Prevention, Outpatient Treatment, and Women’s Transitional a doubt, the younger a person is when they drink alcohol, even in small amounts, the higher their risk is for becoming an alco holic. This is because our bodies, includ ing our brains, have not fully developed. The other reason that parents will allow their children to drink is that the parents have developed an addiction to alcohol. Even in the early stages, this addiction will interfere with a person’s ability to have good judgment You say.that this cannot be tolerated and I want you to know that your frustra tion is normal. A long time ago, an old Raven friend of mine wrote a prayer that will help you. It’s called the Serenity Prayer. You probably know it. The Serenity Prayer calls on us to “change the things we can.” You can men tor a young person, be their friend. Lis ten to them. Show them you care. Model to them that life can be good without al cohol and other drugs. The Serenity Prayer also guides us to “accept the things we cannot change.” Frustration is stress and is not healthy for you. And you can do something about that! If you need information about how to deal with frustration and stress, write to me again. Signed, Raven Dear Raven: Time and time again I have seen our Native people come out of prison and A&D treatment only to go straight back to what put them there in the first place. Drugs, violence, alcohol, and abuse in all types. A very low percentage make it out here in so ciety while the greater percentage goes back or to jail countless times for pa role violation. What can be done to be more resourceful and less judgmental when our people come home? What can family members do and share to be of support? Signed, Needing Helpful Tips Dear Needing Helpful Tips: This is something that bothers many people and it’s good you are asking about it. When people go through residential alcohol/drug treatment, they are sur rounded by support and spend every day focusing on recovery. When they are ready to leave, they feel strong and it can be very hard for them to imagine them selves ever going back to the life they lived before treatment. We call this the “Pink Cloud Syn drome.” Once the person is back in his/ her home environment, it can be hours or days before all the triggers for his/her addiction seem to surround them. Others are over-confident and think that they will be able to drink alcohol “socially” or control their use of other drugs. They don’t think they need con tinued help and so they do not participate in aftercare treatment or community self- help/support groups. Even though they have not been in the same kind of positive environment, people who come out of jail and prison often have the same unrealistic beliefs about what they will face when they tran sition back to their community. While we need more community resources for people in these situations, often they do not use the resources that do exist. Here is what you can do if you have a loved one who is returning home: tack behavior.” It also clearly suggests that this attack behavior will continue for longer periods of time. By sharing this information, we are not supporting animal research. Because of the increase in meth use and the inci dents of violence that we suspect are re lated to meth use, however, we thought that this was important information to pass on. If you live with a meth user who is showing signs of aggression, please talk to someone. Your safety is important. 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. • • • • • • Help them with transportation to counseling appointments and self help group activities. Listen to them when they need to talk and let them know you care. Be clear about your expectations and boundaries, especially if they are go ing to live with you. If those bound aries and expectations are violated, follow through with what you know is best for you. Understand that this person is deal ing with a huge adjustment that may take a long time to get through. Find support for yourself through counseling, church, ALANON, the sweatlodge, or other community sup port resources. Never, ever, condone their use of al cohol or other drugs. Do not drink with them or around them. Invite them to do things with you that do not involve alcohol or other drugs. You must be a very caring person to have written about this. Don’t forget to care for yourself! Signed, Raven Jan. 4 - Noon to 1 p.m. Siletz Tribal Health Clinic Conference Room Please note this change in location! Meth and Aggression Siletz News • January 2006 ATOD and Youth Delinquency Prevention 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 I-800-600-5599 or 541-444-8286. 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. General Council Meeting Feb. 4, 2006 - 1 p.m. Siletz Tribal Community Center Siletz, Oregon Agenda Call to Order Methamphetamine, Part 4 Please join us! • Salem: 503-390-9494 Portland: 503-238-1512 Meth Task Force Meeting 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 541-444-8286 or I -8(X)-6(M)-5599. You can make a difference! 6 Siletz: 1-800-600-5599 or 541-444-8286 Eugene: 541-484-4234 A recent animal study on the effects of methamphetamine use gives us more information about why it is that people have a tendency to become more violent and aggressive when using methamphetamine. This research tells us that meth causes an increase in what is described as “at Invocation Roll Call Approval of Agenda Approval of Minutes Program Reports Gaming Distribution Ordinance: Sharon Edenfield Funeral Benefits: Cat Tufts Tribal Member Concerns Chairman’s Report Announcements Adjournment
