Alaska suffers from the effects of substance abuse. It remains one of our most serious health and social problems. We need public-private partnerships and long term strategies to prevent, intervene early, treat and help people recover. Read more in today's post.
Alaska suffers from the effects of substance abuse. It remains one of our most serious health and social problems, and is a contributing factor in suicides, crime, domestic violence, child abuse, unemployment, school dropout rates, juvenile delinquency, and other issues.
Substance abuse and dependence are associated with substantial health and social costs, and we need public-private partnerships and long term strategies to prevent, intervene early, treat and help people recover.
In July 2008 at the invitation of Rasmuson Foundation, a group of 20 Alaska leaders, guided by a facilitator with expertise in the subject, gathered for a two-day think tank retreat to formulate new ideas about how to address substance abuse in Alaska. The challenge at this and subsequent meetings was to identify immediate changes that could be made in existing systems and to brainstorm long term strategies for moving the needle on this issue.
Rasmuson Foundation, the Alaska Mental Health Trust, and Mat-Su Health Foundation signed a Memorandum of Agreement to dedicate financial and human resources to exploring the best way for organized philanthropy to have an impact.
This partnership initiative was given the name “Recover Alaska.” It suggests not only the process of individuals recovering from substance abuse, but also recovering, reclaiming and restoring what’s best about Alaska’s families and communities.
Through Recover Alaska, we have educated ourselves more fully about the problem and potential solutions, consulted with local and national leaders, and looked at other broad-based public health initiatives, such as the tobacco cessation movement, for lessons learned.
Utilizing the services of a consultant and the expertise of the think tank group, a plan was formulated that includes strategies at multiple levels including policy change, marketing to affect social norms, and centralized resource and referral mechanisms.
We are under no illusion that this work will be easy. Or that change will be rapid. Substance abuse is a complex and multifaceted issue that affects every part of our community. However, it is imperative for Alaska that we begin our recovery.
Do you have suggestions for how we might better face the challenges of recovery?
7 Comments
Posted by Tasha
In order to successfully empower communities and support them in addressing the needs they have related to substance abuse and mental health, an equally powerful effort must be taken to address the social determinants of health in our communities. As stakeholders in Alaska look to address substance abuse and mental health, I imagine this is being strategized comprehensively, by providing a holistic approach. As the collective vision comes together to address promotion, prevention, treatment and recovery, we should also consider the impact that social determinants of health have on exposure to risk. I have recently been inspired by The WHO publication, Equity, Social Determinants and Public Health Programmes, which can be found at http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241563970_eng.pdf. As many in the prevention field (myself included) spend the bulk of their work/career doing program implementation, providing services and working with individuals. This shift (at least in my thinking) to looking at the cause of the cause and approaching the issues from another direction seems promising to me. I am hopeful this promising endeavor includes an effort to repair some of the problems in the social safety net in communities with higher disparity. If we could successfully work towards addressing all stages of the issue, by incorporating public health and behavioral health models, while empowering communities, I believe Alaska will reclaim and recover what’s best about our families and communities. Communities intuitively know what they need. As a member of the community of Alaska I am looking forward to being a part of the change, starting with me, with my neighborhood and my community.
Posted by Ben Herrington
Since I arrived in Alaska I have realized so many great things about those that call this place home; a sense of independence, adventurous spirit, strong beliefs, and a love of the joys of life.
However, what has been most disappointing to me is the lack of respect that I often witness, which coupled with an overblown sense of entitlement, has created a selfishness which I have never witnessed before. How can we expect each other to show respect for anything, when it is a common occurence to witness an entire bag of trash surface with the melt? How can people be expected to show self-restraint and abstinence from anything, when it is difficult to find a social or community event at which there is not a place to purchase large amounts of alcohol? How can we expect our children to have a healthy and respectful attitude about life, when we live purely for the moment, show respect only for what we each individually enjoy, and disregard the concerns of others?
This, as I see it, is the worst type of entitlement. The independent sense of live-and-let-live exists, but to such a point that there is a belief that “I should be able to do whatever I want, take it if it is there, and if it affects someone else, that is their problem.” Independence is a right that comes with a responsibility. A responsibility to family and community. If Alaska is to change and improve on any level, it has to begin with the values of its citizens. We have to stop thinking of only our own convenience, our own moment, and to recognize the “sensitive dependence” of everything around us. Just about everything we do has affects someone else. We need to be cognizant of those effects, and respect the well-being of everyone that we affect.
Posted by RASMUSON FOUNDATION
Ben -thank you for weighing in on this topic.
Posted by Chantelle Pence
When I think of the people that make up the population of Alaska’s social service “problems”, I think that there must be some of the greatest artists, healers, and community helpers there. Elders in disguise. I bet it’s those people, the misfits and social menace, that have the most of what we need at this time.
I would like to see a place where the people can go. A community of their own.
A place where they can live as their ancestors lived, or at least close. A place that is ruled by the mother way. The way that is gentle, and kind, and true. The way that follows natural laws and rules. I would like to see a place made, an intentional community. Not a place for treatment, a place for living. A place for people who want to live the mother way, who want to follow her rules. Out of respect and wisdom, not out of fear.
The mother way receives. It is Yin. It accepts. In a father dominated world, the Yin is overtaken. Pushed down. The Yin must be given a place to move forward, it will not do it on its own. Except sometimes….
Sometimes the mother takes too much. So she quakes and she shakes. Great tears come down. Unstoppable floods cover the land. Even man can’t stop it when the mother erupts. She does not do it in anger though, she does it because she gives back exactly what she has been given.
Maybe that is what is on the streets. The one who fills the bar stool and the bingo seat. Maybe that is the one that sits around in the smoke filled house. The one who blows his brains out. It is the one who has taken too much, because that is his way. The mother is the one who takes and makes, but right now he has no place.
The systems of the land are dominated by man. Even the woman is too much man. I hope we can learn to honor the mother, and honor each other. I honor the mother. The one under my feet. The one that is you, the one that is me. I pray that we make a way for her to stand and fill the positions of the land. That the mother be given a chance to make new systems for man.
Posted by RASMUSON FOUNDATION
Chantelle – thank you for your comment.
Posted by Myra Murphy, Wellness Center Planner
Good morning. I wanted you to hear a bit about Norton Sound Health Corporation’s dynamic response to the deadly issues of substance abuse in this region. As you may know, Nome is the service center for the 15 outlying villages in the Bering Strait Region. As a “wet” community, Nome is viewed by village communities as a significant part of the “problem” of substance use disorder behaviors, e.g., domestic violence, loss of life, assault, homicide, suicide, child abuse/neglect, loss of vocational/educational hope,depression,poverty, and so forth. Residential substance abuse treatment left the region in the late 1990s and,most recently, treatment for addictions has been limited to individual/conjoint therapy and substance abuse group (8 hours per week). When clients have needed a higher level of treatment, they must leave the region, family, work, and commitment for the urban facilities. Discharge planning back to their home communities has not provided the changes needed to further sobriety upon their return, leaving the clients to repeat the cycle dangerously, legally, and generationally.
In community forums through the past 5 years, this region has voiced the need for a sobering center and treatment facility in this region. These voices added specific regional concerns to this planning; the program/s must include a traditional/cultural basis throughout treatment and must involve the region’s Elders. In the past year, Liitfik, The Wellness Center, has been drafted and designed under the watchful eyes of the Cultural Committee and the State of Alaska/Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority partnership. The support of the region’s Elders continues to be sought as village communities begin to hear about this traditionally-based substance abuse treatment program; this support by Elders (compiled in a collection of interviews)will contribute to the creation of an Elders’ Council to provide a presence and the wisdom of the healthy role models of the region.
As this year draws to a fiscal end, the Wellness Center planning team begins the pre-development phase needed to review the possibility of using the soon-to-be vacated old hospital site (the West Campus) for program spaces. The pre-development project provided by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and the Foraker Group will meet to plan the project in late June. In fact, Liitfik’s blueprint is being worked on today by NSHC’s architect to identify necessary spaces and changes in the old hospital site.
As summer begins, our existing substance abuse treatment groups will move to the country to continue their traditional activites/group sessions. Bringing the clients to the land, has proven to evoke the re-awakening of their cultural identity, the feeding of their soul. This application of so many of the cultural activities will flow through Liitfik’s programs to build health on personal and community fronts and to begin the journey to wellness.
Keep tuned in to Nome and this region; we are excited. Thank you for your attention.
Posted by RASMUSON FOUNDATION
Myra – thank you for the update. It’s helpful to know what others around the state are seeing and doing around this issue.