Hopi Alcohol and Substance Abuse Summit April 4-6<br>

Goal: to reduce substance abuse while providing effective treatment

POLACCA — Lynn Root, substance abuse prevention counselor at Hopi Jr/Sr High School, said he hopes the April 4-6 alcohol and substance abuse prevention summit will result in tangible strategies to combat the problem.

The Hopi Tribe is hosting the three-day summit at Hopi Jr/Sr High School.

Hopi Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr. issued an executive order last April calling for the alcohol and substance abuse prevention summit. The Hopi chairman said he believes that addressing alcohol and drug abuse will help prevent crime and civil disturbances.

Root said alcohol and drug abuse on the Hopi Reservation have been linked to crimes such as breaking and entering, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, civil disturbances, vandalism and one murder. He added that the alcohol and drug abuse have a tremendous impact on academics.

“We need a uniform drug and alcohol curriculum at all the elementary schools, and it needs to start at an early age,” he said.

A news release from the Hopi Tribe states that an emphasis will be placed on developing laws and policies to issues listed by tribal leaders. Village leaders, tribal leaders, law enforcement personnel and representatives of other tribal agencies are expected to attend the summit.

Summit, page 11

Root said new laws and policies need to be developed to address alcohol and drug problems. He noted that while it is illegal to possess alcohol on the Hopi Reservation that it is not illegal to drink it.

Another problem is that there is no juvenile holding facility on the Hopi Reservation so youths are often booked and released into their parents’ custody.

Juveniles and adults used to be housed in the same jail on the Hopi Reservation until a federal court ruled that juveniles and adults could not be held in the same place.

After this decision, juveniles from the Hopi Reservation were at first sent to Gallup, N.M., and later to Colorado. But Gallup proved expensive and the

Colorado facility has been closed leaving police wondering what to do with minors who commit crimes.

Root said he feels that progress is being made because the question on the Hopi Reservation has changed from “Do we have a problem?” to “We have a problem so what do we want to do about it?”

“The answer is every person has to do some soul searching,” he said. “The answer is simple: We all need to sober up. All the people need to come up with a common plan that has focus and purpose.”

Root said the answer will involve energy and money with the tribe, the villages and the high school each contributing.

Root said that too many people have died on the Hopi Reservation because of alcohol and drugs.

“How many people have to die before we recognize that it’s a problem?” he asked. “I’ve had kids die from alcohol-related car accidents. I know a 27-year-old who died from cirrhosis of the liver. Not all doctors agree, but I’m convinced that alcohol contributes to diabetes.”

Root said the solution also rests in Hopi culture.

“Alcohol is a big problem. The solution is we have the commonality of spirituality. We need to quit comparing ourselves to other communities and look within,” he said.

Root said there could be a change of heart when Hopis realize that alcohol is hurting their culture.

Chairman Taylor said in a news release that alcohol and substance abuse are having a devastating impact on Hopi families, their way of life and their future.

“This is a community-wide issue and it will take a community-wide approach to adequately address the situation,” he said.

Hopi Chief Judge Gary LaRance, who is also co-chair for the summit, said in a news release that the summit’s goal is to reduce substance abuse while providing effective treatment. He said a culturally based curriculum that includes drug prevention is also needed.

(Stan Bindell, former Observer editor, is journalism and radio teacher at Hopi High School.)

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