Page 9
Health and Human Services
Kids without conscience: Oregon Indian women help kick off president's
identifying a child with behavioral problems health care plan at big Portland rally
Smoke Signals August 1 994
There are many words and labels
used to describe children and
adolescents with severe behavior
problems. Attention- Deficit
Hyperactive Disorder can present
with impulsive behavior.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
involves frequent loss of temper
and arguing. Parents say the
children just don't listen. Teachers
find them distracting. The criminal
justice system finds them all too
often. Therapists sometimes throw
up their hands, not knowing what to
do.
The important question may be
how to differentiate such problems
as Attention-Deficit Hyperactive
Disorder and true Conduct Disorder.
It is the truly Conduct Disordered
kids and adolescents whose
repetitive and persistent patterns of
behavior cause the greatest concern.
The Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders defines
this disorder as a disturbance of
conduct lasting six months, during
which at least three elements on the
following list have been present The
child has:
1 . Stolen without confrontation of
the victim.
2. Run away from home overnight
3.0ftenlied.
4. Engaged in fire setting.
5. Often been truant from school.
6. Broken into someone's house,
building, or car.
7. Deliberately destroyed property.
8. Been physically cruel to animals.
9. Forced someone into sexual
activity.
10. Used a weapon in a fight.
1 1. Often initiated physical fights.
12. Stolen with confrontation of the
victim.
13. Been physically cruel to people.
Use of tobacco, alcohol, and other
drugs is often present and
problematic. However, the above
barriers often existed before the
onset of alcohol and drug use.
Alcohol and drug use brings these
children and adolescents to the
attention of criminal justice, school,
and treatment professionals.
With these individuals, there is a
themeoflackof remorse and inability
to leamfrom their experiences. This
is not to say they lack intelligence;
just the opposite is often the case.
These children, adolescents, and
adults can be quite intelligent and
charming. As a matter offset, they
may act "too good" or "too smooth"
and may be spellbinding. However,
their long-term pattern of behavior
tells a different story.
Stanton Samenow, in "Inside the
Criminal Mind" (1984), states, "As
the personality of the criminally
inclined child unfolds, his parents
are gripped by the gnawing fear that
something terrible is going to
happen. Their nerves are constantly
on edge. Every time the phone
rings, their hearts sink. What is it
this time--a distraught neighbor, a
teacher reporting a fight, the police,
or worst of all, a hospital informing
them that their child is injured or
dead?"
How to manage or survive this
disorder troubles the minds of many.
It is believed that a combination of
genetics and environment plays a
large part in the development of
these children, adolescents, and
adults. Talking therapies dont seem
to help. Punishment does not seem
to be effective. They typically dont
wish to change. They only want to
escape punishment Serial killer Ted
Bundy said, "There are people far
more successful than I." He was
talking about those antisocial
individuals who had not been
caught for their crimes.
Teens can get out of hand...
When does a teenager cross the
line from "normal" rebellion to
troublingorproblem behavior? This
chart, from "You and the
Adolescent,", by Anne Levine,
offers guidelines.
"NORMAL" M1SBAHVIOR:
One or two minor, non-violent
violations of the law or school
regulations.
Occasional arguing with parents
and other adults.
Leaving home for a day, or running
away to a familiar home, once.
Skipping school, or cutting class,
once.
Experimentation with alcohol or
other drugs.
"TROUBLE-BEHAVIOR
Repeated or premeditated
violations of the law or school
regulations, however petty.
Aggressive outbursts;
contrariness for the sake of being
contrary.
Sexual provocauveness. (When a
teen flaunts his or her sexuality in
ways designed to provoke parents.)
Regular use of drugs or alcohol.
Running away from home more
than once in three months.
Skipping school regularly.
"REALPROBLEM"BEHAVIOR
Any violent act or crime; solitary
delinquent acts.
Opposition that leads to violence
at home, suspension from school,
or results in contact with law
enforcement.
Addiction to drugs.
On July 22, Grand Ronde tribal
member Rosetta Manangan of
Portland, and five other Oregon
Native American women, were
invited by Hillary Rodham Clinton
to be part of the Pioneer Courthouse
Square rally that kicked off the
president's proposed health reforms.
Hillary Clinton's appearance
inspired an enthusiastic, noisy
crowd estimated by police officials
to be more than 10,000 people.
Manangan and her companions
travelled on the bus caravan from as
far as Pendleton to be there.
"It was a thrilling experience," she
said. Tm so glad I was invited and
could participate."
SPIRITUALITY AND RECOVERY
ENCAMPMENT
Mamook Kloshe Tahmahnawis
(The Healing Spirit)
Spirituality and Recovery Encampment
Sponsored by the Grand Rpnde Tribal Chemical Dependency Program,
this encampment will be held September 2, 3, and 4 and the Chemical
Dependency program building.
TIME: It will begin Friday, September 2, and 7:30 am with an opening
prayer and ceremony. It will end Sunday, September 4 at 1 2 noon.
ACTIVITIES: "Talking Circles", sweat lodge, everting storytelling and
drumming, Indian baseball, volleyball, fishing, and reservation trail hikes.
ALLDRUMS WELCOME.
For more information and registration call (503) 879-2026. .
Nanitch Sahallie's
Nanitch Sahallie is a
residential youth treatment
facility located in Keizer,
Oregon. As part of their
recovery program, all clients
at Nanitch write an essay
about themselves and their
heritage. To protect client
confidentiality, all printed
biographies will be
anonymous.
Hello. I am writing my story about
my life and my stay here at Nanitch
Sahallie because I would like to tell
you a little bit about me. I am a male
alcoholicaddict I am on probation
for an accident where I was the driver
of a car in which a person was fatally
injured When I came here in March,
I had just come from a juvenile
detention hall. I had violated my
probation, and was looking at a year
to five years at MacClaren School. I
was blessed by the grace of God and
sent here for treatment
The first week I was here I had a
realdifficulttime. The main problem
was I was scared to look at myself.
V-'
via' , ti
Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke to a crowd in Portland about
the presidents proposed health reforms.
Client Corner
I ran away from Nanitch, and was
looking at getting kicked out of here
too. About the third week I was
here I started looking at myself. I
started looking at what I had done
and why I was doing the things I
was doing.
The fourth week I was here we had
family week. My parents came, but
I was scared to face them; even
though I had a lot of support here,
I didn't know if I could face them for
what I had done. But through
praying, AA and NA meetings, I
started getting into treatment a lot
more, and I had a more positive
attitude after I knew I had my family's
support. I had been living a life of
total destruction, not even knowing
there were people out there who
cared about me.
I found I had a lot of shame and
guilt over what happened in my life,
and to cover up my feelings, I used
alcohol and drugs. For a while, they
were my best friends. Or so I
thought. All they were doing was
killing me day by day, and I had
been too scared to tell people I had
".J
1
'J
F
mm
I
Medical Clinic
changes
The tribal medical clinic in
the month of August has the
following office hour
changes. Thankyou for your
cooperation and have a safe
summer.
Aug 5 Clinic Open 1:00 to
5:00 p.m.
Aug 12 Clinic Open 1:00 to
5:00 p.m.
Aug 17 Clinic Closed All Day
Aug 19CIinic Closed All Day
a problem. I know now I don't have
to rely on drugs or alcohol to help
me. I found out through my stay
here that there is a power greater
than myself to help me through my
problems.
Today I am one more day sober,
andmtwoweeksIwiUbe graduating.
I will still be looking at a lot of court
cases where I might do dome time,
but I know I don't have to face them
all alone. I know today, by working
the Twelve Steps and by putting my
love and trust into God, that I can
live day by day and talk my feelings
out with others. By doing that, lean
keep an open mind and also help
others to recognize that when you
use alcohol and drugs, all you are
doing is hurting your families and
throwing your lives down the drain.
Know that later on you will hit
bottom, and may have nothing left
by the clothes on your back, and
that's the truth.
So my suggestion to everyone
who does drugs or alcohol is stop.
But if you cant, ask for help there
are people out there who do care.