Pubdate: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 Source: Navajo-Hopi Observer (AZ) Copyright: 2005 Northern Arizona Newspapers, Inc. Contact: http://www.navajohopiobserver.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3572 Author: Stan Bindell Note: Stan Bindell, former Observer editor, is journalism and radio teacher at Hopi High School. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) HOPI TRIBE HOSTS FIRST ALCOHOL & DRUG SUMMIT Three-Day Session On Strategies To Tackle Abuse POLACCA --Youth on the Hopi Reservation have a drug and alcohol problem, and every entity needs to come together to help address the problem. Those were the two key points that continually arose during the Hopi Tribe's drug and alcohol summit held at Hopi Jr/Sr High School April 4-6. More than 200 attended the first two days and more than 150 attended the final day. Hopi Chief Justice Gary LaRance, co-chairman of the summit, said community leaders will come together after the summit to come up with strategies to address the drug and alcohol problem. "Now, what are we going to do?" he asked. "When we come together for another summit in two to three years we want to look at how the numbers have dropped." Health care workers, law enforcement, educators, elected officials and students participated in the summit by serving on panels or giving speeches. Multi-Faceted Issue Lynn Root, substance abuse prevention counselor at Hopi Jr/Sr High School, gave a Power Point presentation showing that a drug and alcohol problem exists, and what steps are being taken to confront the problem. Root said that there is no one single factor that can solve the problem because many factors cause drug and alcohol abuse. He stated that the students' response in the Arizona Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows that the Hopi youth have a drug and alcohol problem that is higher than the state average. Research, Root said, shows that a lack of surveillance, physical deterioration of a community and high rates of adult substance abuse all contribute to substance abuse by teenagers. He said these factors are present in Hopi communities. But, he said, laws have to be sensible and prohibition didn't work in America. He said one to two drinks in a pleasant circumstance can be good, but he added drinking when your fighting with your spouse is not a good idea. Root also said that drinking to excess isn't good. "It's been said that if the ocean was beer that Hopi's would get a straw and suck it dry," he said. Root said the survey stated that the youth feel they don't have opportunities in their communities for social involvement. He praised the Hopi Office of Youth Affairs for trying to get more opportunities for youth going. Root pointed out family problems impact children, and he urged parents not to fight in front of their children. He added that the survey showed that students were less likely to drink when they felt that they were a valued part of the family, but 80 percent of the youth reported antisocial behavior within their family. Root said, however, there are "some students who use drugs even if their family is perfect." He said academic failure increases with the risk of drug use and delinquency. On the other hand, if a student likes school, does their homework and sees school as relevant they are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. One interesting point was that there was a high academic failure rate among the students yet they had a high commitment to attending school. This means they were attending school either for the socialization or to obtain drugs. "You kids are using too much dope. It undermines everything," he told the students. Root also had a message for the bootleggers. "I can't understand how you can do that to your own people," he said. Others also addressed the bootlegging problem. Hopi Police Chief Alfonse Sakeva said it's just a matter of time before they get caught. Hopi Councilman Marvin Yoyokie said the tribe needs to toughen the laws on bootlegging. Root said the survey showed that Hopi teenagers are using cocaine and meth more than the state average. He also noted that students are getting suspended for discipline problems at above the state average. Root said the community, the school, the family and the children all need to be treated in order to decrease the drug and alcohol problem. Root said the school is addressing the problem through intervention, starting more activities for youth and having clubs such as Students Against Destructive Decisions and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. He said the community is addressing the problem through the Wellness Court, Behavioral Health, Guidance Center and several other agencies. Chairman's Stance Hopi Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr. issued an executive order last year calling for the drug and alcohol summit. Chairman Taylor told the crowd that the idea was to get all the data and have a public dialogue in order to create a healthy Hopi community to raise the children properly and make the elders feel safe in their homes. He said a recent survey showed that many Hopi children face risks from antisocial behavior such as alcohol and substance abuse, family problems and depression. "In many cases, the risk factors at Hopi High exceed those of other state schools. Methamphetamine use has been identified by many in our community as a growing problem," he said. Chairman Taylor said the future rests with the young people. "We all want them to be happy, healthy, confident and productive,"' he said. "A lifestyle that causes our young people to become angry and depressed--to use drugs and alcohol--is not good." Chairman Taylor said some place the responsibility for juvenile drug and alcohol abuse solely on the young people. He added that this suggests that in the good old days people worked hard and didn't need drugs or alcohol to make their lives complete. "That is not true, of course," he said. Chairman Taylor stated that some blame the parents. "It truly must be bad parents to shoulder such blame, for it is the parents who give our children the greatest gift of all. It is the parents who give them life." Chairman Taylor said the burden of responsibility falls on everybody. "As the saying goes, it takes a village," he said. The chairman asked what the community is doing to support its young people and what they are doing to provide meaningful activities for the youth. He said this is needed in order to help them develop good sound values so they can make critical life decisions that will not lead them to drugs or alcohol. "That's really what the Hopi way of life is all about: strength in the community, working in the fields. Village dances and ceremonies. Going to the kiva, learning from your uncle, godparents and grandparents those life values that sustain us through the end of our days," he said. Chairman Taylor said there was a breakdown in the traditional Hopi ways. "But all is not lost. The Hopi culture remains. The extended family system of parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles and godparents remain strong in many families," he said. Chairman Taylor said he wants to break down the walls of silence, suspicion and distrust that divide people. "We need to build on what unites us," he said. "I want a plan to make life meaningful for Hopi people today, so that we will all enjoy a better tomorrow." Student Skits The Hopi High drama class performed a skit at the beginning of each day. The first skit was about how it was in the past, the second skit was about how it is currently and the third skit was about how it should be in the future. Beth Giebus, drama teacher, gave the students high marks for writing all of the material and for strong performances. She said that student actress Connie Thompson gave a powerful monologue on the second day. Thompson played Crystal who spoke about how her teachers and parents didn't understand her, so she gets high and then gets into a car crash. "I think they did a good job of getting the message across," Giebus said about her acting students. Giebus said the class researched the issue, but one student crafted it and Bucky Preston from Polacca helped. "A lot of people said the performances were powerful and enjoyable," she said. A Hopi drug abuse prevention center offers a 24-hour hotline where people can telephone for help at 928-309-9251. Self-help and outreach groups are available through this number. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth