FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME WEEK
MAY 8-15, 1988
In celebration of Mother's Day, and continuing through
out the week, the Alcohol Prevention Education Pro
gram will job with many other national, state and local
organizations to intensify efforts to warn pregnant
women about the dangers of drinking alcohol during
pregnancy. This special push is planned as part of
National Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Week,
May 8-15, 1988.
People simply don't know that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
is the leading cause of mental retardation. Most
importantly, it is completely avoidable if women "ab
stain" from all alcohol during pregnancy.
It is estimated that at least 5,000 babies each year suffer
from the effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. These
children suffer from growth deficiencies, facial abnor
malities,' malformed organs and mental retardation. As
many as ten times that number suffer from a milder
form of alcohol-related birth defects known as Fetal
Alcohol Effects.
Modern medicine can do a lot to help you have a healthy
baby, but not without your help. Please say no to
alcohol and other drugs. Say yes to your life and say yes
for your baby's healthy life.
For more information, call Monte or Margaret at 879-5211.
WOMEN'S SUPPORT CROUP MTG.
Vietta Helmy from the Women's Crisis Center b Salem
will be the guest speaker at the May 4, 1988 women's
support group meetbg at 6:00 p.m. at the Grand Ronde
Tribal Office. The main topic will be self-esteem.
For more information, call Margaret or Bonnie at 879
5211. ALCOHOL PROGRAM EXTENDS
SERVICES TO PORTLAND AREA
Thursday, April 21 will mark the begbmng of our new
Alcohol and Drug Counseling Program b the Portland
Metro Area. I will be spending one day a week (Thurs
day) at the Siletz Portland Area office at 1710 NE 82nd
Ave. The phone number there is 255-3510. I will be
there all day for your convenience. Office hours will be
9:00 am to 4:30, THURSDAYS only. If you think you
might have need of counseling I urge you to call and
make an appobtment or just come in and talk. If you
need more information, please call me at the Grand
Ronde tribal office 879-5211 or, on Thursdays, at the
Siletz Portland office.
See you there!
Monte Ring
Chemical Dependency Specialist
NO NO KNOW PUPPETS TO TEACH
YOUTH ALCOHOL PREVENTION
The Alcohol Prevention Program has recently purchased
a puppet presentation kit for use b schools and Title IV
programs. The No No Know puppets provide a cultur
ally sensitive approach towards the prevention of
chemical substance abuse among Indian youth. The
program encourages student participants to develop a
positive self-image while clarifying their values and
attitudes, particularly towards alcohol and drugs.
The curriculum has been designed for students of
elementary school age. Each class is divided bto five
distinct phases. (1) the sharing of elements; (2) the
btroduction of puppets; (3) the telling of legends; (4)
the conduct of the Round dance and; (5) the conduct of
the talkbg circle. The chosen legends are enacted by the
animal puppets.
The primary goals and objectives of the presentation
revolve around the principal of building good social
survival skills, the sessions bclude copbg skills, self
esteem building, decision making, refusal skills, and
, alcohol and drug information.
Margaret Provost
Alcohol Prevention Education Counselor.
THANK YOUU!
I would like to thank all those who helped make the
Easter activity a successful event. There was an abun
dance of candy, food and prizes donated by tribal
members, Council and staff and local merchants. The
activities were enjoyed by many tribal youth, and adults
' as well.
Thanks everyone, the help was appreciated!!!
INDIAN VALUES AND ALCOHOLISM
Alcoholism, once unknown, has been all too familiar b
the recent history of the Native American people. While
stereotypes of "the drunken Indian" are overworked, a
problem bterwoven with cultural conflict remains.
From the days of colonization, abandoned federal
policies and forced assimilation, alcohol has lingered b
the heritage of Native Americans. Inferior liquor
became a bargainbg chip b treaty negotiations. Indians
first experienced alcohol, origbally an alien substance
for most tribes, as part of this effort to obtab land, and
later through the drunken-comportment of non-Indian
role models on the frontier.
As alcohol abuse has become entrenched withb Indian
communities, academic explanations surface ranging
from metabolic differences to bternalized rage. What
ever the reasons, alcoholism is the number one health
problem b Indian communities today.
Co-dependency must be considered b terms of unique
cultural dilemmas surrounding alcoholism. The central
dilemma is that of preserving one's heritage b the face
of historical genocide.
Certab traditional values appear to conflict with
recognized need to stay abreast of modern times. Chief
among these are:
The primacy of the extended family. -;. . .v
Sharing the wealth. Unlike the dominant non-Indian
culture that values accumulation, status for Indian
people is determined by how much one can give away.
Non-bterference. This is an outgrowth of respect for
the sacredness of all creation. Under this cultural norm,
no one has the right to btrude upon the course of
nature.
Indian communities struggle to maintain the values of
sharing and no bterference, particularly withb the
extended family. But when one or more family mem
bers are alcoholic, what is known as a "cultural disso
nance: results.
As an extended family member, the alcoholic cannot be
denied. Unable to btrude upon an bdividual's right to
his or her own destiny, the family cannot btervene
without a sense of conflict.
Successful community prevention, education and
treatment programs will respect these cultural values.
They will educate families on new ways of bteractbg
with the alcoholic so that cultural norms do not express
themselves b enablbg behavior. This will require a
modification of traditional behavior. Families must be
given permission to use new methods b dealbg with a
non-traditional problem. With appropriate btervention,
the reality of positive change is not as far away as it may
seem. ,
If you have any questions or need any information,
please feel free to call me at 879-5211, -
Monte Ring
Chemical Dependency Specialist
ONE OUT OF 10 OREGONIANS IS
AN ALCOHOUC OR DRUG ABUSER
Addiction to drugs and alcohol is a destructive, often
fatal disease characterized by loss of control, physical
dependency and contbued, compulsive use b spite of
extremely adverse consequences.
Every addicted bdividual affects five to seven family
members or friends - their financial prosperity, emo
tional health and childhood memories.
Drunk drivers were responsible for 53 of traffic deaths
b Oregon last year. In half of these accidents, children
werebvolved.
Alcohol and drugs are implicated b 80 to 90 of
Oregon's of Oregon's burglaries and 67 of all family
violence.
Addicted employee work at only 23 capacity and have 3
12 times more accidents.