TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
Ask Raven
CEDARR
Raven will answer your questions
about problems associated with alco
hol, tobacco and other drugs. You can
call in your questions to the numbers
below or mail them to:
Community Efforts Demonstrating the Ability
to Rebuild and Restore
July 2, 5:30 p.m.
Siletz Community Health Clinic
Raven
P.O. Box 549
Siletz. OR 97380-0549
Dear Raven: I love someone who
drinks a lot and sometimes he uses
drugs. He does good for awhile and
then I find out he has been sneaking
around behind my baek. This has
eaused so many problems and we
have a baby now. Why can’t he see
what it is doing to us? I love him but
I am getting so frustrated and I don’t
trust him anymore. From, Unsigned
Dear Unsigned: What you are seeing
is a common symptom of addiction. That
is denial. Denial is the way the addicted
brain has of making sure it will get more
of the drug (alcohol is a drug too).
The addicted brain will send mes
sages to the person's consciousness
that minimizes the seriousness of the
addiction or makes excuses for con
tinued drug use even when there have
been negative consequences.
Here arc some examples of denial:
It’s not that bad; everyone I know does
it; I can control it; I can quit anytime; I
don’t do it very often; other people drink
way more than I do; I need it because I
am in pain; there is nothing else to do;
alcohol is legal; marijuana is natural.
Some people with an addiction
problem are not honest with them
selves about the seriousness of their
problem. Others are aware of it, but are
not honest with others because they
don't want anyone to tell them they are
concerned or give them an ultimatum.
Denial is a difficult thing to deal
with in a relationship with a loved one.
And the first thing to go is trust because
there is no longer honesty in the rela
tionship. But there is hope.
Everyone with an addiction problem
can get help. But it’s up to the person
to decide he or she is ready to accept the
help. Even people who are mandated to
a treatment program may resist accept
ing the help and just go through the
motions until they complete treatment.
But addiction treatment providers do not
give up. The help is there, waiting for
that moment when the person reaches
out for help.
For you, as a family member, it’s
very important that you take care of
yourself and your child. Your frustra
tion can turn to anger and resentment
very easily and this is not healthy for
you as a person and as a mother.
Please talk to a counselor who un
derstands addictions or go to an
ALANON meeting, a self-help pro
gram of recovery for family members.
If your loved one sees you are willing to
get help, maybe eventually he will too.
Remember, you are not alone. Oth
ers have found help and you can too.
Thank you for writing. Please let
me know how you are doing. Raven
Siletz Tribal A&D Programs
Prevention, Outpatient Treatment and Women’s Transitional
For more information, call 541-444-8286.
We hope to see you there!
Where Are They Getting It?
Youth Access to Alcohol
by De Anna Pearl, A&D Prevention
Fact: According to the Oregon Healthy Teen Survey, 69 percent
of AI/AN youth said it was easy to get alcohol.
Where are they getting it, you ask?
Of the youth who reported they drank
in the last 30 days, 51 percent marked
they had obtained alcohol from these
top three sources: a party they attended,
from friends who are older than 21 and
from friends under age 21.
Unfortunately, 29 percent reported
they are getting it from a parent, tak
ing it from home without permission
and getting it from a brother or sister.
How do I limit my child’s ability to
obtain alcohol? Here are some suggestions:
S Monitor alcohol use in your
home. If you keep alcohol in your
home, keep track of the supply.
Make clear to your child that you
don't allow unchaperoned parties
or other teen gatherings in your
home. Encourage him or her to in
vite friends over when you are at
home. The more entertaining your
child does in your home, the more
you will know about your child’s
friends and activities.
Siletz: 800-600-5599 or 541-444-8286
✓ Connect with other parents. Get
Eugene: 541-484-4234
Salem: 503-390-9494
Portland: 503-238-1512
Narcotics Anonymous Meetings
Monday - 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Atonement Lutheran Church
2315 N Coast Highway (I0I). Newport
Friday - 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
Saturday - 6-7 p.m.
Siletz VFW
143 SE Eggbert St., Siletz
Tuesday - 7:30-8:30 p.m.
St. Peter the Fisherman Lutheran Church
1226 SW I3*h St., Lincoln City
Saturday - 6:30-7:30 p.m.
St. James Episcopal Church
2490 NE Hwy 101. Lincoln City
Thursday - 8-9 p.m.
St. Peter the Fisherman Lutheran Church
1226 SW 13* St., Lincoln City
Toll-Free Help Line - 877-233-4287
8
•
Siletz News
•
July 2008
ting to know other parents and
guardians can help you keep closer
tabs on your child/children.
Friendly relations can make it
easier for you to call the parent of
a teen who is having a party to be
sure a responsible adult will be
present and alcohol will not be
available. You're likely to find out
that you're not the only adult who
wants to prevent pre-teen/teen
alcohol use - many other parents
share your concern.
✓ Keep track of your child's activi
ties. Be aware of your pre-teen/
teen’s plans and whereabouts. Gen
erally, your child will be more open
to your supervision if he or she
feels you are keeping tabs because
you care, not because you distrust
him or her.
✓ Develop family rules about teen
drinking. When parents establish
clear “no alcohol” rules and expec
tations, their children are less likely
to begin drinking. While each fam
ily should develop agreements
about teen alcohol use that reflect
their own beliefs and values, some
possible family rules about drink
ing are:
1.
Kids will not drink alcohol un
til they are 21.
2. Older siblings will not encour
age younger brothers or sisters
to drink and will not give them
alcohol.
3. Kids will not stay at teen par
ties where alcohol is served.
4. Kids will not ride in a car with a
driver who has been drinking.
The Good News: Only 5 percent of
the youth reported they are getting their
alcohol from grocery stores. Retailers
are doing a great job of checking iden
tification to reduce sales to minors.
www.parentingisprevention.org
www.theantidrug.com (AOL Keyword:
Drug help
CTSI Jobs
CTSI Employment Job Line
541-444-8296 or
800-922-1399, ext. 1296
Visit our Web site at
www.ctsi.nsn.us
Note: “Open Until Filled” vacan
cies may close at any time. The Tribe’s
Indian Preference policy will apply.
Tribal government will not discrimi
nate in selection because of race, creed,
age, sex, color, national origin, physi
cal handicap, marital status, politics,
membership or non-membership in an
employee organization.