It is a set up for failure for both the village people and the counselor. A strong emphasis needs to be placed on developing village

ownership of the alcoholism problems, and village involvement

the

therapeutic solutions.

Most of the

in

community development successes in rural Alaska have as a major component a return to traditional methods of healing. This is not to say that AA and 12 step oriented treatment modalities do not have a place in rural Alaska. Many villages have great success with the 12 step program. Yet the AA groups that seem to florish are those that were started by village residents

themselves and have been modified to reflect

the culture in which they are taking place.

The Alaska Native Village Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Survey found that "72% of the people who responded said their villages

are not getting enough help as far as alcohol and other drug abuse is concerned." "A large number, 87% of the respondents said they would like to see more programs available in their villages."

There are fifteen villages in addition to the City of Nome

in the Northern Lights Recovery Center catchment area. We try to provide a full range of services to the residents of these villages.

We have a Village Representative Program run by the Village

Coordinator. Nine Village Representatives have been hired. The

selection, hiring, and job description of the Village Representatives involves the Village Coordinator, Village Council members, and the

a part time basis, education/prevention, outreach, and referral

services for their village.

A top concern identified in the Alaska Native Village Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Survey is the need for community involvement/ ownership of services, and the need for village based programs. Northern Lights Recovery Center fully supports efforts towards providing training and support to expand the community development model to all regions. There is an enormous need for funds to train

these

para-professional

counselors.

In a dysfunctional community

due to chemical abuse and its related problems, these para-professional Native Counselors are often misunderstood, isolated,

The

and a prime target for burnout and resignatiion, or worse. Counselor needs to be constantly reinforced and trained in counseling techniques. Funding levels are such that this kind of training rarely takes place. Training funds for all staff at Northern Lights Recovery Center, but most importantly Native staff, are totally inadequate. One essential long term requisite in developing healthy lifestyles in rural Alaska is the ownership of the health field jobs by Alaska Natives. Training and continuing education funds are usually the first to go in times of budget cuts. More emphasis and funds need to be allocated towards the training, certification and continuing education of local Native people.

We at Northern Lights Recovery Center believe that it is becoming steadily more unrealistic to continue to address only the issues

of chemical use and abuse.

According to the A.F.N.

"Change in rural

Report on the villages has been So

Status of Alaska Natives,

rapid and so profound during the past few decades that many Native people have been personally overwhelmed by a world of conflicting values." The A.F.N. report cites, "In 1950, six Native suicides were reported. In 1985 suicide was the fourth most common cause of Native mortality. The current Native suicide rate is four times the national average: for woman 20 24 years old, five times; for years old, fourteen times. Rates are not predicted

men 20

24

to diminish."

75% of these suicides are alcohol related.

A synergetic

approach, involving alcoholism, mental health,

and government professionals working cooperatively with Native Leaders and Native Councils will ultimately start to reverse some of these dismal statistics. Our philosophy adheres to alcoholism as a disease concept, yet it is becoming increasingly evident that in rural Alaska other mental health and social problems contribute heavily to the development of alcoholism for most Alaska Natives.

Long term solutions to alcohol and other drug abuse will only come about if education/prevention efforts receive priority attention and funding. The Northern Lights Recovery Center Village Program has only one full time prevention position and this position is responsible for all fifteen villages.

component that has the potential to ultimately turn the tide on

alcoholism and other drug abuse.

Services."

The most common concern cited by rural provides and programs staff in the Alaska Native Health Board Survey was, "Youth Specific Facilities and programs for youth in the Bering Straits Region are almost non-existent. Our Prevention Coordinator holds a weekly youth group in Nome outside of his regular job duties in the villages. If not for that group there would be no substance abuse services for the youth of Nome. Adolescent Substance services for the youth of the Bering Straits Region has to be a number one funding priority.

abuse

Another area that needs increased attention is the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. According to the A.F.N. report to the Legislature, "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the leading cause of Native birth defects and Native mental retardation, and the Native F.A.S. rate is more that twice the national average." Due to funding

constraints, Northern Lights Recovery Center has been unable to provide adequate F.A.S. education in the villages and Nome. Current prevention staff are spread much to thin, therefore issues being addressed have to be prioritized, and whole target populations such as pregnant and post-partum women are neglected. Again, staff feel, and rightly so, that F.A.S. has to be addressed so they take on prevention activities as well as a full case load and more often that not burnout trying to accomplish too much.

Another priority for Northern Lights Recovery Center is the incorporation of family treatment.

Involving the whole family in treatment results in rapid and long lasting recovery. The whole family, not just the abuser recovers. A supportive family environment is a foundation upon which a quality, long lasting recovery can occur. Due to budget constraints, Northern Lights Recovery Center is lacking a family counselor posiiton. Currently treatment and administrative staff are attempting to provide family counseling to the residents in our catchment area. Again, staff are spread to thin, yet family counseling is vital to the overall recovery process and cannot be ignored.

The Northern Lights Recovery Center is moving toward a more holistic, culturally specific, Native operated treatment program. We support and encourage the community development process. The villages in our catchment area have to participate in the ownership of the recovery process for a lasting, healthful change to take place. We are attempting to assess and resolve interelated health and social conflicts in conjunction with substance abuse treatment issues. This demands a high degree of

cooperation among health

Education/prevention efforts in our region are severely underfunded, with youth services and F.A.S. prevention heading the list of needs. Family involvment in the therapeutic process is also essential for clients of the Northern Lights Recovery Center program, but current funding levels do not allow a family therapist position for the

program.