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.
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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
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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!
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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!
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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