TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
hoi. tobacco and other drugs. You can
call in your questions to the numbers
above or mail them to:
Raven
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
Dear Raven: People are always
talking about how drugs are had for kids.
What about adults? By Anonymous
Dear Anonymous: Sometimes we
focus on something, like how drugs and
alcohol affect youth, and we forget to
pay attention to the whole family and
whole community. So I’m glad you are
helping us remember to do that. I will
answer your question with that in mind.
People of all ages suffer the harm
ful consequences of alcohol/other
drug abuse and addiction. Here is
some basic information:
•
•
•
Babies who are exposed to legal and
illegal drugs in the womb may be
born premature and underweight.
This drug exposure can slow the
child's intellectual development
and affect behavior later in life.
Adolescents who abuse alcohol/
other drugs often act out, do poorly
in school and drop out of school.
They are at risk of unplanned preg
nancies, violence and infectious
diseases.
Adults who abuse alcohol/other
drugs often have problems think
ing clearly, remembering and pay
ing attention. Their work perfor
mance and personal relationships
suffer, and they may have legal and
financial problems as a result of
drug abuse. They too are at risk of
infectious diseases and other health
problems related to their use.
Parents’ alcohol/other drug abuse
often means chaotic, stress-filled
homes, child abuse and neglect.
These conditions harm the well
being and development of children
in the home and may set the stage
for alcohol/drug abuse in the next
generation.
Thank you for writing! And Happy
Holidays! Raven
8
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Siletz News
•
by Delina John, Prevention Coordinator
Underage Drinking Awareness
Dear Friends: To those of you who
drop me notes saying “Hi,” I want to
say “Hi” back to you! Thanks for your
friendship! Raven
•
Prevention
With the holidays just around the
corner and your chiId/chiIdren having
time off from school, it's a good time
to talk with them about making healthy
choices for themselves. It’s hard growing
up today in our toxic culture and the pres
sures of everyday life sometimes are hard
to handle, especially for pre-teens and teens.
You as parents have an important role
in helping them make positive, healthy
choices to say “NO to ATOD.” I have
chosen this month’s article to focus on
binge drinking and alcohol poisoning.
It’s important that we as parents have
all the facts about what is happening
in our communities so if we see signs
of underage drinking, we can help. Let’s
all be part of that solution and let our
child/children know what they could
be facing if they choose to drink.
If you want more information on
underage drinking or have questions
regarding anything else, please call
1-800-600-5599 or 541-444-8267.
•
Call 911.
tions, killing a person within hours.
•
Stay with the victim.
That’s because of the physiological ef
•
Keep the victim from choking on
fects of alcohol, which suppresses nerves
vomit by placing them on their side.
that control involuntary actions like
•
Tell the emergency medical tech
breathing, heartbeat and the gag reflex.
nicians exactly how much alcohol
Even after a person stops drinking,
the victim drank- don't guess or
alcohol in the stomach continues to
minimize the amount!
enter the bloodstream and circulate
throughout the body. That's why binge
Prompt medical attention is the only
drinking is especially dangerous, be
way to save a person’s life if they have
cause many victims ingest a lethal dose
consumed too much alcohol. It can be
of alcohol before losing consciousness.
deadly to try to reverse the effects of alco
By the time they do lose consciousness,
hol by drinking coffee, taking a cold bath
and even if friends and family rush
or shower, sleeping or walking it off.
them to a hospital, it may be too late.
So once again the message is clear
Even if caught in time and the vic
- Talk to your child/children! The more
tim survives, alcohol poisoning often
information you as the parent can give
results in permanent brain damage.
Here's what can happen when a per • your child/children on the conse
quences of underage drinking, the bet
son drinks too much alcohol too fast:
ter. It will give them the power to stay
above the influence!
Choking: The victim chokes on his
Have a safe and happy holiday season!
or her own vomit.
w
breathing becomes irregular and
slows to a stop.
Heartbeat stops: The victim's heart
beat becomes irregular or stops.
Hypothermia: The victim’s body
temperature decreases, leading to
cardiac arrest.
Hypoglycemia: The victim’s blood
sugar level plummets and causes
seizures.
Binge Drinking Linked to 4,000
Deaths Annually
Binge drinking, defined as drink
ing too much alcohol too fast, has been
linked to as many as 4,000 deaths ev
ery year from alcohol overdose. Until
recently, deaths by alcohol poisoning
were largely unreported in the media.
Now that college campuses are required
by law to publish all student deaths,
people are learning more about the tragic
effects of binge drinking.
Around the country, reports from
victims’ families and county medical
examiners confirm that alcohol can be
a lethal drug. And it’s particularly true
for teen-agers.
Of the first eight cases ever re
ported as alcohol poisoning, half were
16 years old or younger. At least half
were first-time drinkers and had never
been drunk before. Five of them were
put to bed by friends or their own par
ents to “sleep it off,” only to be found
dead in the morning.
Tragically, what these friends and
parents didn't know is that if a person
drinks too much alcohol too quickly
before falling asleep, the alcohol will
shut down breathing and heart func-
December 2007
Breathing stops: The victim's
Here are the critical warning signs
of alcohol poisoning:
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•
•
•
•
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Mental confusion: The victim is in a
stupor, a coma or cannot be roused.
No response: The victim does not
respond or cannot feel pinching of
his/her skin.
Vomiting while sleeping
Seizures
Slow breathing: Breathing is less
than eight breaths per minute.
Irregular breathing: There are 10 or
more seconds between breaths.
Hypothermia: Low body temperature:
victim is pale or has bluish skin color.
If you suspect that someone may have
ingested a fatal dose of alcohol, call for
emergency medical help immediately:
Narcotics
Anonymous
Meetings
Monday - 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Atonement Lutheran Church
2315 N Coast Highway (101), Newport
Tuesday - 7:30-8:30 p.m.
TLC - A&D Building
565 Old River Road. Siletz
Tuesday - 8-9 p.m.
St. Peter the Fisherman Lutheran Church
1226 SW 13,h St., Lincoln City
Thursday - 8-9 p.m.
St. Peter the Fisherman Lutheran Church
1226 SW 13,h St., Lincoln City
Friday - 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Atonement Lutheran Church
2315 N Coast Highway (101). Newport
Saturday - 6-7 p.m.
Siletz VFW
143 SE Eggbert St., Siletz
Toll-Free Help Line
1-877-233-4287