Although national statistics are hard to come by, tribes across the nation are reporting that methamphetamine has become a major problem on their reservations.
On the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Chairwoman Kathy Kitcheyan said 63 babies born last year were addicted to meth. More recently, a 14-year-old girl gave birth to a drug baby without feet, the tribe's social services director said.
Meth affects people of all ages. David Dudley, a 20-year-old San Carlos Apache man, was beaten to death at a meth and booze party in January 2005. Just this week, a Navajo grandmother, mother and daughter were arrested for dealing the drug.
The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is holding a hearing April 5 to examine meth in Indian Country.
Get the Story:Tribes across nation confront horrors of meth (The Arizona Republic 3/31) Related Stories:
Attorney General Gonzales visits Yakama Nation (3/30)
Grandma, mom, daughter arrested for meth (3/30)
Border tribes face threats from migrants, drug trade (03/21)
Meth use tied to child abuse in Indian Country (3/16)
Lance Morgan: Indian Country now has the 'Meth Diet' (3/13)
Tribes face new danger in methamphetamine (3/7)
Update from NCAI winter session in Washington (02/28)
NCAI meets in Washington for winter session (02/27)
Drug trafficking ring busted on Pine Ridge Reservation (02/24)
Editorial: Canada to blame for reservation drugs (2/23)
Jourdain blasts comments in NYT story on drugs (2/21)
NY Times: Drug trafficking in Indian Country (2/20)
Tom Heffelfinger to step down as U.S. Attorney (02/15)
Garcia turns to Four Directions to guide Indian Country (02/03)
Tribal judge expected to enter plea in drug case (01/31)
St. Croix Band hears dangers of methamphetamine (01/19)
Chippewa Cree Tribe launches anti-meth campaign (01/12)
Tribe's public defender held on meth charges (01/04)
Tribe's public defender charged in meth conspiracy (12/21)
Lummi Nation burns house that was used to sell drugs (12/02)
Opinion: Tribes, state to combat meth problem (11/28)
Washoe Tribe joins fight against meth (11/01)
Crow Chairman: 'We have a meth epidemic' (10/26)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe hosts meth summit (10/07)
NAIHC expands program to deal with meth problem (09/29)
U.S. claims 400 meth arrests in 'Operation Wildfire' (08/31)
Washoe Tribe says meth invading communities (08/18)
Methamphetamine called a big problem for tribes (8/11)
Navajo Nation counts 32 active gangs, 500 members (08/05)
Reservation meth dealer given life prison sentence (07/08)
Nevada tribe concerned about methamphetamine use (06/22)
Plan seeks to combat meth problem in Montana (03/22)
Navajo police find methamphetamine in car (03/04)
Meth use a serious problem among Native youth (02/25)
Officials praise Navajo methamphetamine law (2/21)
Navajo Nation Council passes methamphetamine law (02/14)
Methamphetamine use explodes on reservation (2/7)
Idaho tribe to sign law enforcement agreement (02/03)
Navajo Nation peyote, meth legislation on hold (11/11)
Reservations called breeding ground for meth (11/08)
Navajo community worried about meth trafficking (10/20)
Film to expose dangers of meth on Navajo Nation (06/17)
Task force cracks drug rings in Indian Country (06/07)
Authorities bust drug ring on Oklahoma tribal land (05/06)
Calif. tribe, local police break up drug ring (01/29)
Tribe turns to banishment to battle drugs (1/19)