The Meth Reality- Looking at a Dim World through “Glass”
~ Rebecca Balog
Methamphetamines are the single most discussed issue by tribal leaders across the country.
Brenda, a 27 year old Native woman was found lying unconscious and choking. Paramedics found her with dilated pupils, a spiking temperature, and a severely escalated heart rate. Brenda survived her first heart attack successfully with CPR during the helicopter ride to a major hospital. Hours later, in intensive care, Brenda suffered another heart attack. This heart attack was fatal. Brenda had ingested a lethal dose of methamphetamines known as meth, crystal, or glass.
David, a 20 year old Apache, attended a local party. The party turned violent. Police reports and court records showed David was punched, kicked and bashed with a bottle. His killers dragged him into a wash and left him naked to die. The party where David was beaten to death was attended by peers using a combination of methamphetamines and alcohol. This family is mourning their son with their neighbors on the reservation.
In a rural community, Ashley lived along a dusty road with an endless series of garden hoses and orange electrical extension cords spliced out to various makeshift homes through out a large parcel of land. A meth addict, with six children, and six months pregnant she paid $300 per month to the lady who rented to this transient community of make shift homes (power and water utilities included via the hoses and extension cords). Within a few weeks the entire encampment had moved due to the imprisonment of the landlord for manufacturing meth. From helicopter surveillance, police discovered ‘dead zones’ in vegetation, which spotlight ‘drug dumps’ of meth production by-products. Months after giving birth, Ashley was still using and “cooking” meth. She and her partner generated a meth explosion in their home. Ashley’s partner tried to treat her chemical burn wounds by placing her in a bathtub of water... and then ran away. Neighbors from the community noticed the smoldering parts of the house; they called the fire department. She was found in the bathtub of the house in a deadly combination of meth acid and water which dissolved and burned away her flesh. Ashley initially weighed approximately 125 pounds before the explosion. Ashley was found weighing 75 pounds, still breathing. Ashley died moments later. (3)
Methamphetamines are the single most discussed issue by tribal leaders across the country. These tribal officials have requested assistance for outreach and education regarding the devastating affects of methamphetamines in Native communities. Tribal bans on sales of over-the-counter cold medicines containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine have been in place on many reservations. Toxic fumes permeate wood, fabrics, entire structures and are highly flammable. The dim reality of methamphetamines: highly addictive; easily (yet dangerously) manufactured in homemade crystal meth labs and leaving a long trail of disparity among Native people for the last decade.
In 2002, San Carlos Apache reservation had 120 documented suicide attempts and 84 actual suicides occurring in San Carlos Apache communities - many linked to the use of meth. Chairwoman Kathleen Kitcheyan spoke adamantly, “In one year, in my tribe, 63 babies were born addicted to crystal meth. This has to change.” (2)
Two years later, in 2004 – a year characterized by the highest documented increase in crystal meth use -statistics showed a 353 percent increase in NDN criminal charges for drug possession; personal assaults tripled, theft almost doubled, and child abuse increased by 85 percent on one Wind River Indian Reservation and this has spread throughout other reservations nationwide.
In 2005, SAMHSA, (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration) reported the exponential growth of meth addiction. “Meth hit American Indians, proportionately, harder than almost any other group: 1.7 percent of the Native population has used methamphetamine compared to less than one percent of whites, hispanics, asians or blacks.” (SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2005) (1) One year later, NCAI (National Congress of American Indians) President Joe Garcia announced a national Native 'Call for Action' and petitioned for a White House partnership against meth.
Today, the numbers appear much greater and meth is affecting younger persons in tribes through out the country. The implications of health and safety issues impacting increased crime such as property, violence and abuse, as well as environmental impacts of manufacturing, increased suicide, and foster care needs for children of methamphetamine households. Tribal offices and urban communities feel the strain on police support, medical treatment, and family intervention. The HHS Department is working to maintain existing programs as well as partner tribal governments in newly affected areas. The ideal war on drugs in NDN Country is a mosaic juggernaut comprised of tribal, federal, state and local resources and into the forefront of each community.
One of the best things you can do is know the truth. Keep your eyes and ears open for meth labs, talk about meth with your friends and family, build an community army to attack this killer in your neighborhood. Report meth labs and shut them down! Join the fight.
(1) Indian Country Methamphetamine Initiative
(2) National Congress of American Indians
(3) Cindy Marchand-Cecil
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