New Mexico Drug Problem Could Use Arizona Solutions

National statistics have been confirming what many New Mexicans know anecdotally-- the drug problem is bad, the death rate is horrific, and too many children are suffering the consequences.

Consider:

• 60 % more drug overdoses in New Mexico than 10 years ago
• Sales of prescription painkillers rose 131% during the same period
• Heroin has been a growing problem among prescription opioid users
• Since 2007, New Mexico has ranked in the top ten nationally for illicit drug dependence
• 9% of the population reports using drugs, compared to 8% nationally
• Drug-related deaths in New Mexico occur at double the national rate 
• Drug-related deaths in New Mexico lead vehicle accidents and firearm deaths as causes of premature death, accounting for nearly 1 out of ten premature death
• Half the local prison population has been convicted of drug-related crime

If one out of ten adults is using illicit drugs, then how many children are at risk for neglect, exposure, ingestion, abuse, delinquency or drug-related criminal activity and violence? Just last week, two men were caught smoking meth around three children, aged 14, 8 and 5 months. Along with drug possession, they were charge with contributing to the delinquency of a minor—but significantly, not child abuse or child endangerment.

What happened to those children? Who knows? In states with a strong drug endangered children coalition, the arresting officers would coordinate with child protective services, medical professionals, mental health professionals and courts to assess the risk to the children and reduce it accordingly. Despite a host of substance abuse programs in New Mexico (which the federal government funds at about $63 million annually), no one group is taking the lead on addressing the problems the children who are getting caught up in the adult epidemic.

A look at neighboring Arizona might suggest a model for collaboration. The Arizona Alliance for Drug Endangered Children works with tribes, cities, counties, schools and professionals to educate the public about the risks that children face around drug users. AZ DEC alliance members developed protocols to outline the roles and responsibilities of professionals intervening in the case of drug endangered children. In seven years, the Arizona DEC Program resulted in the successful prosecution of over 138  cases involving over 291 children. A special agreement between the state and tribal governments allows tribal officers broader jurisdiction, and more flexibility in pursuing cases across the reservation border. More local collaborative efforts target specific problems, like prescription drug abuse, by involving the entire community in anti-drug causes.

To learn more about how to form collaborative teams that can help children whose caregivers are using drugs, join us in Phoenix for a free two-day training session, October 2-3.

Community Policing A Success for Tribal Youth

We worry about the dangers that youth face on reservations, especially from drugs and gangs. On the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation in Wisconsin, tribal members complained, "There's no jobs. You see 10-year-old kids in little four to five member gangs walking and breaking windows. Something's going to escalate." Likewise, people of the Penobscot Indian Nation complained about youth playing loud music, vandalizing buildings and even stealing during the long Maine nights.

Anyone familiar with Indian Country knows the problems: too few officers patrolling large, rural areas; too many adults doing drugs or drinking instead of being positive role models; not enough resources for existing law enforcement or service providers. It's not hard to understand how tribal police would shy away from tackling new programs or approaches.

However, as tribal police start applying community policing principles, they have been discovering how many problems it solves. In Wisconsin, tribes across the state share resources, personnel and training with state officers to combat gangs and drugs. In the first year of their partnership, inter-agency teams busted up a crack ring on the St. Croix-Chippewa Nation and made over 105 arrests, all while respecting firm boundaries on tribal sovereignty. In Maine, the Penobscot police worked with tribal leaders to open a tribal coffee shop that provides youth with a friendlier and healthier place to hang out. In Idaho, the Nez Perce tribal police collaborated with the Lewiston and Quad Cities police to bust a dealer holding nearly $300,000 worth of drugs, as well as firearms, cash and jewelry. By collaborating—sharing information, resources and activities to achieve a common goal— the sum of the parts ends up having a huge impact on making communities safer.

The elements of community policing are simple (below), and can be applied to a host of problems for Native youth, from gangs to drug endangered children. To learn more, join us for a free online webinar to discuss Creating Collaboration Through Community Policing, hosted by our expert on successful community policing, Dr. Ron Glensor.

Establishing a Strength-Based Tribal Collaboration for Drug Endangered Children

Identifying children at risk for child abuse and neglect is a key feature of community-based interventions. Assuring the use of culturally appropriate assessment tools and integrating best practice in child welfare are both critical in protecting this at-risk population. Through the use of the NICWA Relational Worldview, participants will be able to assess areas of strength and opportunity for the optimal collaboration in protecting our greatest resource- our children. Tools and resource links will be provided that can be used across programs to support mutual values.

Find out more about the upcoming webinar.

Reporting Drug Endangered Children

Most Indian Country doctors, teachers, police officers, social workers and mental health professionals understand that they are mandated reporters for child abuse, but not as many understand how to recognize the signs of a child who is living in a drug endangered environment. Fewer still know how to collect evidence to support removing the child—or children— from their home. The National Alliance For Drug Endangered Children and Indian Country Training are reaching out with free training for  Indian Country professionals, so we can work together to make sure kids don't suffer for their parents' drug or alcohol abuse.

People who see a child frequently, like teachers and school resource officers, may notice a child who is malnourished, or consistently unkempt or smelly, particularly if the child often smells like chemicals. Children from homes where their caregivers are abusing drugs or alcohol often mimic their elders' behavior by cursing, inappropriate touching, promiscuity, drug experimentation, and disturbing play. Sometimes the parents appear impaired, over-explaining circumstances, failing to get their kids to school or showing up to events, or sending various non-relatives to pick up the children from school.

Poverty or parental illness may explain some of these things, so every effort should be made to determine if this is the case.  But if a pattern emerges, and the child's mental, physical or emotional health seems impacted, then the case should be reported by calling the Indian Country Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-663-5155. You may remain anonymous, but you'll have to report the child's name, age and tribal affiliation; whether the child is in danger; a location and telephone number where the child can be found; and the parent(s)'s names, tribal affiliation and contact information. You will be asked to describe the indicators that led you to believe the child is a victim of abuse or neglect.

For more specific information about DEC reporting, as well as the protocols for collecting evidence and collaborating with law enforcement and child protective agencies, join us for our free upcoming webinars or for one of our regional training sessions (coming up in Phoenix and Spokane).
Establishing a Strength-Based Tribal Collaboration for Drug Endangered Children
July 10, 2013 at 10am MST
Presenter: Nadja Jones
Click to Register

Identifying Drug Endangered Children: A Collaborative Approach
November 6, 2013 at 10am MST
Presenter: Lori Moriarty, National DEC
Click to Register

Children at Risk with Legal Marijuana

Marijuana legalization is fast becoming a reality for residents of some states, although it remains illegal under the federal laws that govern much of  Indian Country. Many states permit medicinal use of marijuana, while voters in Colorado and Washington have legalized recreational use by adults.

The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children asked leading experts in Washington and Colorado to comment on the effect that they expect legal marijuana to have. Esther Larsen from the Washington Alliance for DEC, responded,

"Perception of associated risks has decreased, most notably among youth and adolescents according to Washington State's Healthy Youth Survey. The majority of all youth drug treatment admissions are for marijuana, both legal and illegal, with an increase of 20% from 2007 to 2012, according to Washington's Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery. Washington State's Toxicology Laboratory lists marijuana consistently as the most common drug detected among impaired drivers with drugs present in their blood."

Jade Woodard, Executive Director of Colorado Drug Endangered Children, added,

"There are many ways in which children will be impacted by marijuana legalization. Due to the legalization, it is estimated that marijuana use will increase, therefore increasing the risk of children experiencing abuse or neglect as a result of impaired caregivers. Significant concerns have been raised about the risk to children of ingesting infused marijuana products. A recent article in JAMA Pediatrics outlines the increase that has been seen in unintentional ingestion of marijuana or marijuana products by children. These children have displayed symptoms such as non-arousability and respiratory distress with some children actually being admitted into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Additionally, research by National Jewish Hospital and Colorado Drug Investigators Association identified significant health hazards of indoor marijuana cultivation, especially for children. Finally, an ongoing concern of marijuana legalization centers around the increase in teen marijuana use and concerns regarding the diversion of marijuana to those under age 21. There are reports of increased rates of school suspensions, expulsions, and dropouts related to teen marijuana use. It is critical that training, education, and monitoring of the impacts of marijuana legalization on children and families be prioritized for Colorado."

We hope the political leaders of these states will heed Ms. Woodard's words.

Strength Based Collaboration in Action

A strength based approach—building on what's right instead of tearing down what's wrong—has proven to be a successful model for turning around negative behavior in children and their families, especially in Indian Country. Programs like the Navajo Nation's Project K'e, the Passamaquoddy tribes' Kmihqitahasultipon (We Remember) Project and the Chippewa's Mno Bmaadzid Endaad (Be in good health at his house) all encourage participants to draw from their strengths as Natives, especially their cultural resilience in the face of oppression.

For example, the Sacred Child Project, which serves four northern Plains tribes, draws from their shared tribal philosophy of "Walking in Beauty on the Red Road." Participants in this intensive outpatient treatment program, which includes children and their families, focus on cultural issues as much as on substance abuse issues, and help participants identify their strengths as individuals and as part of a proud Native culture. Each participant is encouraged to view their entire community as part of a holistic world view and to draw on community strengths as part of the healing process. Commonly identified community strengths include tribal rituals and celebrations, the support of one's extended family, opportunities to help others, natural beauty, and educational opportunities.

This successful approach to engaging families in the recovery process can also be effective as a tool to identify and report drug endangered children. Learn more with Nadja Jones of NICWA, in our free webinar, coming up July 10, 2013. Register now to save your place!

Finding Our Own Paths To Well-Being

For years, behavioral health and social workers have used a strength-based approach in helping children and families heal from substance abuse, violence, delinquency and similar issues. With Native families, the approach looks a little different. In the Native world view, it's critical to find balance among the different elements of your life. When our lives go off the rails, we can heal ourselves by discovering what elements are out of balance and finding ways to restore that harmony. When the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) asked Native families where their strengths lay, the respondents gave the answers above.

While this approach is perfect for families, it also works for organizations. Join us for a free webinar on a strength-based approach to collaboration in protecting drug endangered children- July 10 at 10 am. Register online here. NICWA instructor Nadja Jones will explore how organizations can work together to improve identification, reporting and intervention for drug endangered children. Feel free to download and share the infographic as a jpg or as a PDF.

Drug Endangered Children Face Immediate and Long Term Harm

In 2004, when Governor Dave Freudenthal signed the order creating the Wyoming Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, the order pointed to both the immediate effects and the long-term harm done to children by exposure to toxic drugs, particularly methamphetamine. Besides "profound abuse and neglect, [and] exposure to toxic chemicals and other hazards," children "can be faced with life-long mental and physical health problems" and require "a continuum of care."

 Trainers from the National Alliance DEC have been in Riverton this week to work with local law enforcement who are gradually implementing a collaborative approach to recognize, report and remediate situations where caregivers' drug or alcohol use is threatening their children. In an interview with kcwy13, Riverton police officers also point to the spectrum of harm drug endangered children face. In the short term, they describe how young children can suffer from toxic exposure to drugs: "It can be ingested by the child by just being in the same room if that is being done in that house or residence where that child is playing. Their toys can be contaminated, their food, so it is a huge concern." As the kids get older, the officers say "We see them acting out at school, we see them hanging out on street corners, we see them abusing alcohol and drugs at earlier and earlier ages."

Riverton is stepping up its program in response to several cases of children being endangered by drugs in their environment, particularly with the increase in methamphetamine abuse. Last summer, a couple was arrested for simultaneously dealing meth and running a babysitting business out of their trailer home. Then in the fall, a 1-year old and a 9-month old were suspected of being injected with a drug, leading to their mother's arrest for meth.  Another woman, hallucinating on meth, freaked out customers at the McDonald's by barking like a dog, then sped away with a small child.

From our own tribal communities, we know how problems of substance abuse can pass from one generation to the next. But hope also passes on from one generation to the next, and so does determination to create a better community, starting today. Visit our website for upcoming training opportunities to learn what you can do in your tribal community.

Drug Endangered Children Awareness Day

The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children observes DEC Awareness Month throughout April, but today is the day everyone involved in helping these children and their families is focusing on solutions. State and tribal DEC Alliances have spent this month getting proclamations signed, coordinating social media campaigns and organizing events with state and local governments. National Alliance DEC Vice President Lori Moriarty has created this short video to highlight why we work so hard to make a difference for drug endangered children and their families.



Do you want to hear more about what Lori has to say? Sign up for one of our tuition-free regional training sessions, where Lori will expand on the role of National DEC in protecting our children. Lori will also be helping tribal professionals develop an action plan for improving identification of drug endangered children in your community through a collaborative approach in a tuition-free webinar this November 6.


If you think drug endangered children deserve more awareness year around, we agree! So does Michele Justice, the owner of Personnel Security Consultants, Inc. We've featured PSC as one of our Native businesses in the spotlight, in part because of their dedication to raising awareness about DEC through their community calendar program. PSC sponsors an annual art contest to gather art from Native students to illustrate the beautiful "Our Children, Our Responsibility" calendar. This beautiful calendar features monthly tips on identifying and reporting DEC in your community, covering topics such as who is a mandated reporter, who receives reports of child abuse, types of abuse and more. The numbers for the childhelp national abuse hotline and the Indian Country child abuse hotline are printed on every page. Use their online order form if you just need a few, but if you are ordering for a large department, contact PSC to discuss bulk rates.

Prescription Overdoses Continue to Rise For 11th Year

Federal data compiled by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that prescription drug deaths rose for the 11th year in a row, to a shocking 38,329 deaths nationwide. The report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, shows that opioid painkillers like Vicodin and Oxycontin are the primary culprits, accounting for 75% of overdoses. Valium contributed to about 30% of the overdoses.

About 17% of these cases were clearly suicides, but the rest seem to have been accidental. The director of the chemical dependency program at NYC's Beth Israel Medical center told AP, "Right now there's a general belief that because these are pharmaceutical drugs, they're safer than street drugs like heroin. But at some point, people using these drugs are going to become more aware of the dangers."

In response to this growing problem, Indian Country Training is continuing its Tribal Prescription Drug Abuse Program, combined with Drug Endangered Children education, for another year. Intensive two-day regional sessions are scheduled for Albuquerque, Nashville, Spokane and Phoenix. For those who can't travel, or want some additional information, webinars are scheduled for May, July, September and November. Contact Indian Country Training for more information on these tuition-free events.

Battling Heroin in Minnesota Requires Community Coalitions

Read the whole story at Indian Country Today Media Network. The news from Minnesota tribes may be grim, but Walter reminds us that solutions lie in education and community coalitions that battle this problem, starting with preventing and treating prescription opiate addiction.  Besides destroying the user's life and health, heroin use results in increased crime, HIV and hepatitis infections, and drug endangered children living in filthy and dangerous environments. Tribes are working with county, state and federal officials to turn this around, but all concerned community members, from caregivers to teachers and from health care workers to law enforcement officers and Tribal courts need to help with the effort to combat heroin.

Drugs of Abuse: Identification and Abatement in Tribal Housing

Learn to recognize the signs of methamphetamine use, prescription drug and over the counter drug abuse, synthetic drug use or heroin use. In addition to identification, participants will learn effective abatement strategies.

Click on the link to learn more about our upcoming training in Scottsdale, AZ. This two day, interactive program is free for Indian Tribe or Tribal Housing Authority employees. Any other participants can register for $50. Click here to register online.

Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Saturday, September 29

Coming To A Site Near You

The best way not to become a party to prescription drug abuse is to avoid having drugs in the house that are unused or expired. Prescription and over the counter drugs should never be flushed or put down the drain, to avoid contaminating the water supply. Instead, they must be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.

To make disposing of unused drugs easier, the DEA will be accepting any pills or liquids you have lying around your house, between 10 am and 2 pm on Monday, September 29. To find the nearest collection site, go to the DEA website to search by your zip code. You can also call 1-800-882-9539 for more information about the program.