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.

Heroin and Crime: How Can We Stop It?

Over the past couple of years, we've been charting the rise of heroin use on our tribal lands. Reservations near big cities have been the first to be affected, but even rural areas are suffering from this blight. Tribal police have seen an associated uptick in crime, too. As the White Earth Public Safety Director and Chief of Police, Randy Goodwin, said, "And along with the drug issue, guess what comes with it. Some of the gangs." One California tribe has seen gangland style killings over heroin deals. A big bust by St. Regis tribal officers resulted in three people being charged with multiple gun and drug felonies. The heroin problem for Minnesota tribes has been especially serious, as demonstrated by recent cases in Spirit Lake and Mille Lacs.

To learn more about why heroin is on the rise, what prescription drugs have to do with the problem, and the next steps for addressing the painkiller to heroin link, join us for a tuition-free webinar, Prescription Drugs to Heroin, Part II on June 26, at 10 am. The last session was full, so be sure to reserve your space now! This webinar will focus on developing community-based partnerships.  By assessing areas of strength and opportunity, members of our tribal communities can work together to protect our greatest resource- our children. Tools and resource links will be provided that can be used across programs to support mutual values.

Killing the Pain Is Killing People

As prescription painkillers become harder to obtain, more expensive and less likely to get you high, opiate addicts in many areas are finding that it's cheaper to satisfy their jones with cheap Mexican heroin. Even though prescription drug-related deaths are have outstripped auto accidents in some areas, heroin is even more dangerous, cut as it is with a variety of chemicals, and of unpredictable potency.

While some areas, like Idaho and Montana, are still wrestling more with methamphetamine abuse (and have passed strict laws to control over-the-counter drugs like pseudoephedrine), more urban regions (like Minnesota, New York, Washington and Florida) are definitely seeing an increase in heroin related deaths and prescription overdoses.

Native Americans experience an overdose rate triple that of the general population, but even suburban parents of promising athletes have been seeing sports injuries tragically turn to opiate addiction, then death by overdose.

We've been sounding this alarm for a while now, but 2013 is the year that we're taking action. Sign up for our tribal drugs of abuse and drug endangered children training program to talk about how this deadly trend is impacting public health, public budgets and public safety in Indian Country. At our regional sessions and our May 1 webinar on the prescription drug to heroin link, we'll provide an overview of the problem and then get to work discussing solutions that will work with the resources we have in our communities. 

New Decongestant Harder to Use For Meth

Just as pharmaceutical companies have been adjusting the formula for prescription painkillers so it's harder to get an opiate high, Acura Pharmaceuticals Inc has released a kind of pseudoephedrine that is much harder to use as ingredient in methamphetamine. Nexafed contains an inert ingredient that is activated when someone tries to extract the pseudoephedrine, and which prevents crystallization by turning into a thick gel.

We applaud any effort that keeps dangerous drugs off the street and it seems like a promising trend that drug makers are taking ownership of the ways their products can be abused. However, as we've seen with oxycodone and heroin, or even with heroin and Krokodil, drug addicts will find something that meets their need. What does this mean for meth?  We'll be watching as this evolves and let you know.

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.