Smoke Signals November 1989 Page 7
COMMUNITIES TO
PROVIDE THE ANSWERS
FOR INDIAN HEALTH
Among Indian youth 10 to 14 years of age, the mortal
ity rate from suicide is more than four times the national
average.
One tribe feels that it has lost a generation of boys
because
of sexual abuse of the children by a teacher at the
reservation
school.
The Phoenix Indian Medical Center, which serves
almost 110,000 Native Americans in a four-state area,
has one psychiatrist on staff. Adequate mental health
care necessitates one psychiatrist for every 25,000
people.
$13 million was appropriated for Indian Health Service
(IHS) mental health programs in FY89. This is 1.3 of
the overall IHS budget of $1.1. billion in FY89, provid
ing $12 per Native American per year in mental health
services. By contrast, treatment provided by states
averaged $43 per non-Indian adult.
Alcohol and drug abuse, family disintegration and
dysfunction, child abuse, self-destructive behavior,
cultural adjustments and grief affect the mental health
of Indians and Alaska Natives. Because of the diversity
of tribal and village communities, the best approach to
addressing many of these issues has yet to be deter
mined. Should emphasis be given to youth, and to
healing scars from domestic and sexual abuse? Should a
focus be building self-esteem as a way to combat
substance abuse? What about long-term-in-patient care
in contrast to the involvement of the community in the
healing process? When so many crimes on Indian lands
are alcohol-related, should jails be converted into
treatment centers?
On June 23, Sen. McCain (AZ) introduced S. 1270, in
the belief both that Indian and Native communities
themselves are the ones best able to determine and
develop programs that would effectively address their
mental health needs, and that traditional cultural healing
can offer as much as western clinical approaches. S.
1270 would establish an Indian mental health services
program. The remaining 25 would be paid by the
tribe. S. 1270 would allow grant money to be spent on
substance abuse treatment programs as well as other
services. These demonstration projects would then be
used to help determine the most effective steps to take
in expanding existing mental health services provided by
IHS. Sen. McCain stated in his introductory remarks
that he hopes S. 1270 "will ultimately lead to the reform
of the metal health delivery system" serving Native
Americans. S. 1270 has been co-sponsored by Sen.
Murkowski (AK), DeConcini (AZ), Cochran (MS) and
Daschle (SD).
On September 14, the Senate Indian Affairs Commit
tee held a hearing on S. 1270. Indian witnesses strongly
supported the measure. Spokespersons for IHS,
however, opposed it, holding that scarce funding is
needed for acute medical care instead. Despite IHS
opposition, Sen. McCain has stated he plans to mark up
the bill in committee and send it to the full Senate for
consideration before the end of the session.
HEALTH HAZARDS
EVALUATION OF THE HEALTH HAZARD OF
CLOVE CIGARETTES:
WHAT THEY DO AND WHY:
Resolution 43 (1987 Annual Meeting), adopted by the
House of Delegates, resolved that the American
Medical Association study the dangers associated with
clove cigarettes, that policy recommendations regarding
regulation of clove and other tobacco additives be
developed, and that this information be made available
to physicians and the public. Clove cigarettes are
tobacco products. They therefore possess all the
hazards associated with smoking all-tobacco cigarettes.
In addition, inhaling clove cigarette smoke has been
associated with sever lung injury in a few susceptible
individuals with prodromal respiratory infection. Some
individuals with normal respiratory tracts have appar
ently suffered aspiration pneumontitis as the result of a
diminished gag reflex induced by a local anesthetic
action of eugenol (the active component of cloves),
which is volatilized into the smoke. The American
Medical Association has an existing policy vigorously
opposing the use of any tobacco product; no exemption
from this policy is made for clove-containing cigarettes.
CLOVE CIGARETTES:
Clove cigarettes are 60 tobacco and 40 cloves,
which causes the tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, and
carbon dioxide content to be higher than in regular
cigarettes.
Known health risks associated with regular cigarettes
can be increased. Also, it appears as though infection
fighting cells are Immobilized, allowing viruses and
bacteria, already present in the lungs, to run amok.
Clove cigarette smokers have reported shortness of
breath, nosebleeds, nausea, lung infections, asthma, and
pneumonia as a result of their smoking.
CINNAMON OIL:
Oil of cinnamon is a yellowish-brown liquid. Cinna
mon oil is sometimes used as a flavoring agent in
cooking.
Physiological effects from sucking toothpicks dipped in
cinnamon oil include dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and
shortness of breath. One half-ounce (one tablespoon)
of cinnamon oil, swallowed or inhaled, can cause coma
andor death.
PSILOCYBIN:
Psilocybin effects are similiar to LSD effects but do not
last as long. The physical effects include dialation of the
pupils, blurred vision, dizziness, muscle relaxation,
decreased concentration, increases in pulse rate, blood
pressure and temperature, nausea and anxiety.
Paranoid reactions, disorientation, depression, and
extreme anxiety, often leading to a panic state, are
effects that may be present even after the drug wears
off.
MDMA:
MDMA is a synthetic, psychoactive (mind-altering)
drug with hallucinogen and amphetamine-like proper
ties. Psychological difficulties include confusion,
depression, sleep problems, drug craving, severe anxiety
and paranoia. These may persist weeks after taking
ecstasy.
Physical symptoms such as muscle tension, involuntary
teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, rapid eye
movement, fatntness and chills or sweating may occur.
Increases in heart rate and blood pressure are a special
risk for people with circulatory or heart disease.
Long term effects include deterioration of neurons in
the body, which is the underlying cause of motor
disturbances seen in Parkinson's Disease. These
symptoms begin with lack of coordination and tremors
and may result in a form of paralysis.
WELLNESS--A WAY OF
LIFE
Did you know that low fat and no sugar treats can be
just as tasty and tempting as those loaded with fats and
sugar? Did you know that a daily walk can strengthen
your bones, to help prevent fractures. Did you know
that the stress caused by the hustle and bustle of the
holiday season can sometimes make you just as sick as
the "flu bug"?
How we live and what lifestyle we choose both influ
ence our health and how long we live. The most
effective way to reduce health problems is to adopt a
lifestyle compatible with a health and wellness program.
What we eat, the exercise we choose, and how we deal
with stress are certainly important components of any
wellness program.
What we eat has been linked to the development of
heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and
even certain forms of cancer. This is especially true in
Indian Country where the incidence of heart disease and
diabetes is so much higher than in other groups of
people. Eating should be both a pleasurable AND a
healthful experience.
OREGON REFUSES TO
NEGOTIATE HUNTING
AND FISHING RIGHTS
Oregon says a court approved agreement is binding
and that it will never renegotiate fishing and hunting
rights with the Siletz.
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz hunt and fish off the
reservation under an agreement signed in 1980. The
agreement restricts the Siletz to 200 Salmon per year
from Euchre Creek, 4,000 lbs. of salmon from state
hatcheries, and 400 deer and elk tags which are re
stricted to a negotiated hunting zone.
The Siletz wanted to amend the agreement to include
the hunting of birds, increase the 4,000 lbs salmon
allowance, and enlarge the hunting zone.
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission refused to
negotiate saying that the 1980 federal court approved
agreement will never be reopened.
The Commission also voted unanimously to refuse to
negotiate hunting and fishing rights for the Confeder
ated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw. The
tribes were among 62 Oregon tribes terminated in the
1950's by the federal government. The Tribes regained
federal recognition in 1984, but their hunting and fishing
rights were not addressed.
Tribal Chairman Richard Jordan said "We're not
willing to let it die because we never relinquished our
hunting and fishing rights."
-Courtesy of the Circle