Post by Okwes on Jul 26, 2006 10:25:46 GMT -5
Sonoma County Indians facing meth crisis Federal study finds 2,500
seeking treatment, more than any Indian group nationwide By PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060724/NEWS/6\
07240303
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607240303>
American Indians in Sonoma County lead the Indian nation in seeking
treatment for methamphetamine addiction, according to a federal survey
of Indian health clinics.
OAS_AD('Middle');
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<http://ads.pressdemo.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.cgi/www.pressdemocrat.c\
om/local/32405/Middle/default/empty.gif/554e4b4e4f574e> More than 2,500
patients sought help during a one-year period ending in March, eclipsing
reports from places such as the massive Navajo reservation in Arizona
and large reservations in the Great Plains states, the Indian Health
Service survey said.
The ranking - which put Santa Rosa second behind Tulsa, Okla., for
cities with Indian meth addiction - surprised Sonoma County tribal
leaders. They knew the drug was a problem, as it is with many racial and
ethnic groups, but didn't realize how Santa Rosa compared to other
regions.
"It's quite shocking," said Greg Sarris, head of the 1,083-member
Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. "I have seen some youths walking
around here like ghosts. One hundred pounds and no teeth."
Adam Malicay of Santa Rosa is in treatment after 12 years of meth
addiction, time he says he spent dealing and stealing.
"It's a pretty nasty lifestyle," said Malicay, a 29-year-old member of
the Upper Lake Band of Pomo Indians. "I've seen people shoot people over
meth."
Malicay said he was offered a chance at probation and treatment instead
of prison after an arrest for embezzlement. He said he's been clean for
26 months, and hopes to get into a program to become a heavy-equipment
operator.
A nine-month residential treatment program, followed by ongoing
outpatient treatment "has given me a new outlook on life," he said.
Reasons vary for the grim statistic that touches the lives of many of
Sonoma County's 11,000 Indians.
Most agree the region has become a Northern California meth distribution
hub and Indians predisposed to addiction have found the supply
inexpensive and plentiful.
But some blame tribal casino profits for leaving Indians with disposable
income and little incentive to work, while others pointed to uncertainty
within law enforcement about conducting drug searches on tribal land.
Still others said the statistics might be skewed by more thorough
reporting from the county's only clinic for indigenous people, the
Sonoma County Indian Health Project in Santa Rosa.
By comparison, the Sonoma County health department treated about 2,000
meth addicts last year, said Gino Giannavola, who heads the county's
alcohol and drug division.
Meth addiction has risen to about 45 percent of all county drug
treatment cases, he said.
"They treated more than we treated," Giannavola said. "That surprises
me."
What's certain is that Sonoma County is following a statewide trend that
has California Indians outpacing tribes across the country in seeking
meth treatment.
Jim Crouch, executive director of Indian Health Service in Sacramento,
said data from 28 California clinics suggests the meth problem is 12
times greater than in the Navajo Nation - about a third the size of all
California tribes combined - in part because meth originated on the West
Coast and now comes mostly from Mexico.
Since Sonoma County straddles Highway 101 - considered a major
trafficking route - the county's Indians have had more exposure to it,
he said.
Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino County Indians also rank among the top
10 in the nation with about 250 clinics reporting.
"We have a more mature problem here," Crouch said.
However, just how many Indians are involved with meth is unclear.
Detectives rarely go on Indian land unless called by Indian authorities,
said Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Bertoli, who heads the Sonoma County Narcotics
Task Force, Bertoli said.
"They police themselves," Bertoli said. "We don't do any
investigations."
Meanwhile, officials say, meth is sweeping Sonoma County Indian country
with devastating effects.
Paul Lowry, who leads the behavioral health department of the Sonoma
County Indian Health Project, said Indians already coping with poverty
and high rates of alcoholism are consumed by an addiction that breaks up
families and forces users to commit serious crimes.
The clinic treats hundreds a month and has about 50 patients in jail,
Lowry said.
Meth addiction leaves people with permanent conditions such as paranoia
and psychosis, Lowry said. Death is a common outcome.
"Meth is the big baddy," Lowry said. "It's the big ugly one. Meth is the
killer."
Preventing Indian youth from turning to the drug is difficult because so
many use it to mask feelings of alienation and despair, Sarris said.
In many cases meth addiction is being passed down through families from
generation to generation, he said.
"It's frightening," Sarris said. "It's robbing us of our youth. And
we've had enough problems."
seeking treatment, more than any Indian group nationwide By PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060724/NEWS/6\
07240303
<http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060724/NEWS/\
607240303>
American Indians in Sonoma County lead the Indian nation in seeking
treatment for methamphetamine addiction, according to a federal survey
of Indian health clinics.
OAS_AD('Middle');
[http://ads.pressdemo.com/RealMedia/ads/Creatives/default/empty.gif]
<http://ads.pressdemo.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.cgi/www.pressdemocrat.c\
om/local/32405/Middle/default/empty.gif/554e4b4e4f574e> More than 2,500
patients sought help during a one-year period ending in March, eclipsing
reports from places such as the massive Navajo reservation in Arizona
and large reservations in the Great Plains states, the Indian Health
Service survey said.
The ranking - which put Santa Rosa second behind Tulsa, Okla., for
cities with Indian meth addiction - surprised Sonoma County tribal
leaders. They knew the drug was a problem, as it is with many racial and
ethnic groups, but didn't realize how Santa Rosa compared to other
regions.
"It's quite shocking," said Greg Sarris, head of the 1,083-member
Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. "I have seen some youths walking
around here like ghosts. One hundred pounds and no teeth."
Adam Malicay of Santa Rosa is in treatment after 12 years of meth
addiction, time he says he spent dealing and stealing.
"It's a pretty nasty lifestyle," said Malicay, a 29-year-old member of
the Upper Lake Band of Pomo Indians. "I've seen people shoot people over
meth."
Malicay said he was offered a chance at probation and treatment instead
of prison after an arrest for embezzlement. He said he's been clean for
26 months, and hopes to get into a program to become a heavy-equipment
operator.
A nine-month residential treatment program, followed by ongoing
outpatient treatment "has given me a new outlook on life," he said.
Reasons vary for the grim statistic that touches the lives of many of
Sonoma County's 11,000 Indians.
Most agree the region has become a Northern California meth distribution
hub and Indians predisposed to addiction have found the supply
inexpensive and plentiful.
But some blame tribal casino profits for leaving Indians with disposable
income and little incentive to work, while others pointed to uncertainty
within law enforcement about conducting drug searches on tribal land.
Still others said the statistics might be skewed by more thorough
reporting from the county's only clinic for indigenous people, the
Sonoma County Indian Health Project in Santa Rosa.
By comparison, the Sonoma County health department treated about 2,000
meth addicts last year, said Gino Giannavola, who heads the county's
alcohol and drug division.
Meth addiction has risen to about 45 percent of all county drug
treatment cases, he said.
"They treated more than we treated," Giannavola said. "That surprises
me."
What's certain is that Sonoma County is following a statewide trend that
has California Indians outpacing tribes across the country in seeking
meth treatment.
Jim Crouch, executive director of Indian Health Service in Sacramento,
said data from 28 California clinics suggests the meth problem is 12
times greater than in the Navajo Nation - about a third the size of all
California tribes combined - in part because meth originated on the West
Coast and now comes mostly from Mexico.
Since Sonoma County straddles Highway 101 - considered a major
trafficking route - the county's Indians have had more exposure to it,
he said.
Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino County Indians also rank among the top
10 in the nation with about 250 clinics reporting.
"We have a more mature problem here," Crouch said.
However, just how many Indians are involved with meth is unclear.
Detectives rarely go on Indian land unless called by Indian authorities,
said Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Bertoli, who heads the Sonoma County Narcotics
Task Force, Bertoli said.
"They police themselves," Bertoli said. "We don't do any
investigations."
Meanwhile, officials say, meth is sweeping Sonoma County Indian country
with devastating effects.
Paul Lowry, who leads the behavioral health department of the Sonoma
County Indian Health Project, said Indians already coping with poverty
and high rates of alcoholism are consumed by an addiction that breaks up
families and forces users to commit serious crimes.
The clinic treats hundreds a month and has about 50 patients in jail,
Lowry said.
Meth addiction leaves people with permanent conditions such as paranoia
and psychosis, Lowry said. Death is a common outcome.
"Meth is the big baddy," Lowry said. "It's the big ugly one. Meth is the
killer."
Preventing Indian youth from turning to the drug is difficult because so
many use it to mask feelings of alienation and despair, Sarris said.
In many cases meth addiction is being passed down through families from
generation to generation, he said.
"It's frightening," Sarris said. "It's robbing us of our youth. And
we've had enough problems."