Turning the devastating tide of substance abuse

By Maggie Plummer

About 50 people attended a "Turning the Tide" evening meeting at the Polson Indian Senior Citizens Center last Tuesday, March 13.

The well-attended Polson session was one of six community outreach meetings being offered by the Tribes' Department of Human Resource and Development Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program, along with other agencies.

The idea is to further educate everyone about the dangers and devastation of substance abuse, and to receive much-needed feedback from local community members on what to do about this increasingly serious problem.

Turning the Tide is a two-year grant project to step up prevention efforts as well as increase treatment and aftercare options. One of the project's stated key objectives is identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting those who illegally transport, distribute and use alcohol and controlled substances in tribal communities.

At last week's meeting, Program Manager Shaunda Albert handed out a public survey for people to fill out, to gather information on what she calls "this growing epidemic" of substance abuse.

"The problem is increasing," she said. "It's being passed on and we're losing more and more children...the victims are getting younger and younger."

Albert and others are urging community members "to get out there and facilitate change." She believes that the only way change will occur is if the community is engaged.

Last week's meeting included presentations from the Salish Kootenai College HIV Awareness program, the Northwest Drug Task Force, the Tribal Probation Department, the Flathead Reservation Coalition For Kids, Montana Probation and Parole, Lake County Chemical Dependency Program, representatives from the Wild Horse Youth Ranch Proposal, and Polson City Police Officer Chris Wright.

The 6-to-9 p.m. meetings include dinner.

During several public comment periods, people remarked that the judicial system has essentially become just a revolving door, there is no quick fix for the problem of substance abuse, and it's crucial that the Flathead Reservation community send a loud, clear message that substance abuse will not be tolerated.

One man pointed out that 90 percent of the youngsters in Child Protective Services are from homes with substance abuse.

He and others suggested that establishing a local inpatient treatment facility be given very high priority.

Along that line, Bob Pearson of Plains and his partner Dell Jones of Thompson Falls addressed the meeting, outlining their Wild Horse Youth Ranch proposal.

Both men previously worked at the Spring Creek School near Thompson Falls, and have been working on their proposal for a Flathead Reservation treatment center for two years, they said.

They think the old ferry remount station near Perma would be a perfect location due to its isolation and its already-built corrals for the ranch's horses - which would be used for "equine therapy."

"We've got to try every possible avenue to keep our kids alive and out of prison," Pearson said.

Two more Turning the Tide meetings are coming up: on April 3, there'll be a meeting in Hot Springs; and on April 20 there will be a session in St. Ignatius. Both of the meetings will be held at the towns' Indian Senior Citizens Centers.

These meetings will include information on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effect (FAE).

Albert has just received FAS and FAE "Manikins" to better show what alcohol-related birth defects look like. FAS children are "33 percent behind the average growth and development rate throughout their lifetimes," she explained.

FAS is the leading cause of preventable mental disabilities.

For more information, contact Albert, 675-2700 ext. 1087. Her e-mail address is shaundaa@cskt.org