Page 2 November 18, 1983
Spilyay Tymoo
New director hired for alcohol program
by Donna Behrend
Jean n ette M urray is a
recovering alcoholic. That
recovery is a “ life-long”
endeavor, says Jeannette, who
was recently hired as director of
th e A lc o h o l a n d D ru g
department.”
Jeannette’s recovery began
nine years ago. In her second
year of under graduate work,
Jeannette stopped drinking
an d re a c h e d s o b rie ty .
Jeannette attained her Master’s
degree in counseling psycho
logy and her Bachelor’s degree
in psychology.
For the past year-and-a-half,
Jean n ette -has w orked in
Eugene in private practice and
is a consultant, working under
contract with Serenity Lane,
and alcohol treatment center
in Eugene. Fourteen people
frqm Warm Springs have gone
to Serenity Lane in recent
months to “dry out.” The
success rate among those 14 is
high, about 12 have remained
sober since completing their
treatment.
It is this type of success that
Jeannette hopes to develop in
the Warm Springs treatment
cen ter. “ Success o f the
treatment depends a great deal
on the treatment staff,” she
says.
There is also a need for
intervention. Because of the
disease, an alcoholic cannot see
his problem. “That’s one of
the major problems of the
disease. Even if an alcoholic
admits to the problem, he can’t
see th e s e v e r ity ,” says
Jeannette. Once the alcoholic is
confronted with his problem,
he m ust be im m ediately
admitted to a treatment center
before he has a chance to get his
defense up and refuse help.
Most importantly, however,
is the need fo r alcohol
education, not only in the
schools, but at home as well.
Children and adults alike must
be informed what alcoholism
is, what it does and that there
are alternatives to alcoholism.
And if a young person who
drinks isn’t treated early, then
that person won’t live long
enough to be ah old alcoholic,
says Jeannette.
One thing Jeannette pointed
out was that Native Americans |
do have a higher alcoholism
rate, due to the lack of an
enzyme in the liver. Without
that enzyme, the liver doesn’t
m e ta b o liz e a lc o h o l as
effectively as in other races.
“It’s difficult to validify this”
scientifically, says Jeannette.
“But it’s commonly thought to
be true. The risk of alcoholism
among Indians is much higher
than in the general population.
The reason for the high
a lc o h o lis m r a te is n o t
psychological or mental, but
physical.”
A sometimes-controversial
aspect of alcohol treatment is
Christmas program
scheduled for Dec. 20
“Anyone who doesn’t come,
will miss a lot of fun,” explains
Ann Kirkwood, committee
member for the upcoming
Christmas program scheduled
for December 20.
Besides a “side-splitting” skit
with the theme, “I’m Dreaming
of a ‘Tight’ Christmas,” door
prizes w ill be aw ard ed ,
surprises presented and fun will
be had. Santa Claus will
also make an appearance.
Ten departments have been
presented the challenge of
organizing a choir to perform.
The winner of the choir
challenge, chosen by audience
applause, will be presented a
trophy to be displayed in their
departm ent until the next
challenge.
T r ib a l e m p lo y e e s a re
organizing the C hristm as
program “in thanks to the
Tribe for what they’ve done
throughout the year, says
Kirkwood.
Committee members include
Levi Bobb, Carol Jenkin,
Pinky Beymer, Anita Jackson,
Debbie Jackson, John Thomas
and Ann Kirkwood.
v
or
Spilyay Tymoo photo bv Behrend
Jeannette Murray
antabuse. “Most see antabuse
as a treatment rather than a
tool to achieve sobriety long
enough to get treatment,” says
Jeannette. “No person who
isn’t alcoholic needs to take
antabuse.”
A ntabuse does have a
positive affect on alcoholics. It
“prevents the metabolism of
alcohol. However, if people
drink on top of antabuse, their
bodies release a very poisonous
and toxic chemical,” says
Jeannette. This chemical often
causes more harm to the
person, sometimes even killing
him.
Jeannette is a firm believer in
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
and encourages clients of any
aleoholc treatment program to
participate. “The AA concept is
something a person can use
throughout his life. It is not
limited in time,” she says. AA
offers a support group as well
as a sounding board for
problems that may arise in an
alcoholic’s sober life.
Because alco h o lism is
hereditary, it is difficult to
d e te rm in e e x a c tly w hen
a lc o h o lism b e g in s. T he
preconceived idea that an
alcoholic is the falling-down
drunk, skid road type is
nonsense. “Only five percent of
alcoholics are the skid road
type. The rest are employed,
h a v e f a m ilie s a n d a re
successful,” says Jeannette.
There is a semi-fine line
b etw een a lc o h o lic s and
“ problem s drin k ers,” says
Jeannette. “The problem
drinker will stop drinking
because of problems. An
alcoholic will continue to drink
in spite of the problems.”
Community awareness night set
Tuesday, December 6, has
been selected as a “community
awareness night.” The subject
for the evening, which will
begin with dinner ató p.m., will
concern alcohol problems and
how alcohol affects the family,
body and mind.
Information, to be presented
in skit form, will include the
following:
♦Effects of Alcohol on the
Family, presented by Betty
Deepers
♦Intervention, presented by
Bob Jackson
♦Treatment and Utilization of
A n tab u se, p re se n te d by
C o m m u n ity C o u n s e lin g
members
♦ I n -p a tie n t T r e a tm e n t,
presented by Jeannette Murray
♦Need for Family Involvement,
presented by Agnes Lawrence
and Betty Deepers
♦L egal C o n seq u en ces,
presented by Ken English.
The skits w illbe presented
throughout dinner and will
include community members
who will be “drawing cards,”
s a id A lc o h o l A d v is o ry
C om m ittee m em ber E lton
Greeley. If there is time
following the skits, there will be
a panel for a question and
answer period. Panel members
will be Sal Sahme, Jeannette
Murry, Anita Davis, Bill
Judevine, as well as others.
Coordinators for the evening
are Anita Davis, Jeff Sanders
and Elton Greeley. They are
hoping to have the Full Gospel
Church Choir end the evening
with singing.
Be sure to mark your
cale n d a rs for th is very
informative and positive get
together.
Spilyay Tymoo
P n u n t o Niouuc
* * * * * * *
e Spilyay Tymoo Staff* * * * * * * *
MANAGING EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . . .S id Miller
ASSISTANT EDITOR ,
__ _ .Donna Behrend
Darkroom/ Writer
Reporter
Typesetter
Marsha Shewczyk
Pat Leno
Priscilla Squiemphen
FOUNDED IN MARCH OF 1976
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Any written material to Spilyay Tymoo should be addressed
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Spilyay Tymoo photo by Shewcxyk
Outstanding athletes
Outstanding performance and hard work are qualities determining who receives the honor of being
athlete o f the month at Madras Junior High. Indian students gaining recognition during September
and October are: (left to right) Dorian Soliz, football; Annette Archer, volleyball; and, Shauna
Craig. ,
.