Parents can get the facts about the danger of adolescents using alcohol
By Jenifer Metcalf, Prevention
Coordinator
For this month’s article, I have chosen
to give parents facts about alcohol - what
it is, what it does to our bodies when
consumed and the health hazards for
our youth.
As I have stated in the past, I want the
truth to be known so if you as a parent are
faced with your children using alcohol,
you can tell them what the results can be
if they choose to continue.
The message is very clear: Alcohol
use is very risky business for young
people. The longer you delay alcohol use
in your children, the less likely they are to
develop any problems associated with it.
The information given here was gath
ered from different websites that are listed
at right. Please check them out, they are
great resources for parents to help with
any problems you might have.
I also am available to help if needed.
1 can be reached at 800-600-5599 or
541-444-9618.
Alcohol affects the central nervous
system and brain. It can make users loosen
up, relax and feel more comfortable or
can make them more aggressive. Unfor
tunately, it also lowers their inhibitions,
which can set them up for dangerous or
embarrassing behavior.
Alcohol is a drug and is legal only for
people over age 21.
According to the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Adminis
tration (SAMHSA), 2.6 million young
people do not know that a person can
die of an overdose of alcohol. Alcohol
poisoning occurs when a person drinks a
large quantity of alcohol in a short amount
of time.
A standard drink is:
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Health hazards
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Alcohol
Alcohol is a depressant that comes
from organic sources, including grapes,
grains and berries. These are fermented
or distilled into a liquid.
Alcohol affects every part of the body.
It’s carried through the bloodstream to
the brain, stomach, internal organs, liver,
kidneys and muscles. It’s absorbed very
quickly (in as little as 5-10 minutes) and
can stay in the body for several hours.
One 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine
cooler
One 5-ounce glass of wine
1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits
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People who begin drinking before
age 15 are four times more likely
to develop alcohol dependence than
those who wait until age 21. Each
additional year of delayed drinking
onset reduces the probability of alco
hol dependence by 14 percent.
Adolescents who drink heavily
assume the same long-term health
risks as adults who drink heavily.
This means they are at increased risk
of developing cirrhosis of the liver,
Volunteer for Prevention Program
If you are interested in volunteering with the Prevention Program, here are
some specific guidelines:
Apply to be a Tribal Prevention volunteer at Human Resources. This will
include agreeing to a criminal background check and a drug screen.
Attend an orientation with Prevention staff to learn about ethics and program
policies and procedures. A volunteer training program will be developed.
For those with previous problems of alcohol/drugs, at least one year of living
a clean and sober lifestyle is required.
Participate in making a prevention video/DVD.
All people to be filmed must sign an agreement to be filmed.
The Tribal general manager and Tribal Council must approve of the final
cut before it’s released for public viewing.
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Any question regarding this process, please contact Jenifer Met
calf, Prevention coordinator, at jeniferm@ctsi.nsn.us or 800-600-5599 or
541-444-9618.
pancreatitis, hemorrhagic stroke and
certain forms of cancer.
Adolescents who use alcohol are
more likely to become sexually
active, which places them at greater
risk of HIV infection and other sexu
ally transmitted diseases.
One study showed that students
diagnosed with alcohol abuse were
four times more likely to experience
major depression than those without
an alcohol problem.
Alcohol use among adolescents has
been associated with considering
planning, attempting and completing
suicide.
For more information about talking
with your children about alcohol, tips
for handling peer pressure and warning
signs of a drinking problem, please visit
these websites:
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niaaa.nih.gov
freevide.com
theantidrug.com
Keyword: Drug Help
TLC attitudes of gratitude: Summer
memories about the Fourth of July
By Lynn Whitlow
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happi
ness. Fireworks lighting the night skies.
Barbeques smoking, watermelon drip
ping. Friends, family and communities
gathering to celebrate the day and enjoy
each other.
July is here in its splendor and glory
- hopefully with sunshine included! We
need balance in everything, including
the weather. The scale is sharply tipped
toward cold and wet. We are grateful for
the green and the reduced rate of forest
fire danger, but we need sunny warm to
dry our lungs and lift our spirits.
TLC residents practice gratitude and
look for it in everyday situations. Some
gratitudes include: Tony Whitehead for
generously giving my daughter her first
toddler bed. I’m thankful to my case
worker for all her services - she helps
me with important needs. Gratitude to
my sponsor for being there anytime, lov
ing me through all my process - always
suiting up and showing up.
My thanks to Jen Butler for all her
support and guidance. She’s really helped
me break through some hard barriers in
my education.
I’m grateful for my true friends in
this community who help me when I’m
struggling financially and emotionally. I
am thankful I have the ability to be pres
ent and available to my family. I’m so
loved and cared for. I’m so happy to have
Jeremy, Rage, Chantel and family. I love
you guys so much.
I’m grateful for my best friend,
Elaine, who always inspires me and gives
me so much hope. I’m grateful to my
counselor who gives me much guidance
- beyond the call of duty.
I love the whole A&D staff, who truly
love me through my process of life. I am
so thankful for my daughter, who is my
everything and I would be lost without her.
We are thankful for our helpers -
volunteer Denise Riding In and staff who
stay over. Thank you to Maintenance
for our grass being tamed and to Force
Account staff for the final paint job on
the shed. It looks great!
May each of you enjoy moments in the
sun. If it’s longer than that, use sunscreen.
Tribal children need foster parents
Do you value Siletz Native culture and want to help
preserve it? If so, please consider fostering for the Tribe.
The Siletz Tribe needs loving, stable, nurturing homes in
all areas.
If you are interested, please contact Shawna Henarie,
foster care certifier, at 541-444-8275 or 800-922-1399, ext.
1275; or visit ctsi.nsn.us, click on Tribal Services, then Employ
ment & Social Services, then Indian Child Welfare.
CEDARR
Community Efforts Demonstrating the Ability to Rebuild and Restore
Mission Statement: We will utilize resources to prevent the use of alcohol
and other drugs, delinquency and violence; we will seek to reduce the barriers
to treatment and support those who choose abstinance.
Siletz Tribal A&D
Programs
Prevention, Outpatient Treatment
and Women’s Transitional
Siletz: 800-600-5599 or
541-444-8286
Narcotics Anonymous Toll-Free
Help Line - 877-233-4287
Eugene: 541-484-4234
Salem: 503-390-9494
For information on Alcoholics
Anonymous: aa-oregon.org
Portland: 503-238-1512
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Siletz News
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July 2011
The last CEDARR meeting was held June 1 and six people attended. The
Healthy Family Healthy Child Project did a presentation.
To better serve our community and fulfill our mission, we need all the
involvement and participation from members of this community that we can get.
There are no requirements to become a CEDARR member. Show up and share
you thoughts with us.
July 6 • 5:30 p.m.
Behavioral Health Conf. Room
Siletz Community Health Clinic
200 Gwee-Shut Road, Siletz
Topic to be discussed: Hands Across the Bridge and community gathering