Native youth march in anti-racism rally in Rapid City, South Dakota, on February 26, 2015. Photo by Simon Moya-Smith / Twitter
How addiction impacts families and friends
By Ernestine Chasing Hawk
Native Sun News Staff Writer RAPID CITY – One way “we are all related” is the way addiction impacts individuals, families and communities no matter the color of our skin. Racial tensions in Rapid City are at an all-time high because of the actions of a few individuals who were “under the influence of alcohol or drugs” according to Rapid City Common Council President Jerry Wright. Wright would like to see more public money devoted to substance abuse recovery, but for a community to heal from addictions, one must scrutinize its underlying cause. Recent studies challenge the age old notions that substances cause addiction and that addictions may actually have more to do with early childhood development, one’s environment, isolation and loneliness. “We need now to talk about social recovery -- how we all recover, together, from the sickness of isolation that is sinking on us like a thick fog,” Bruce Alexander creator of “Rat Park” wrote. Alexander challenged earlier studies wherein rats were placed in cages, isolated with nothing to do but drink an elixir of drugs or water. The rats became addicted and drank the elixir until they died. Proponents of the “War on drugs” used this experiment to support their belief that drugs cause addiction. Alexander, to test his theory that drugs don’t cause addiction and that addiction is attributable to isolation, built what he called “Rat Park” a virtual playhouse for rats of both sexes, with ample food, balls and wheels, “and enough space for mating and raising litters.” The rats were again offered a choice of water or the elixir laced with drugs. “Nothing that we tried,” Alexander wrote, “... produced anything that looked like addiction in rats that were housed in a reasonably normal environment. Control groups of rats isolated in small cages consumed much more morphine in this and several subsequent experiments.” Author Johann Hari in his book, “Chasing The Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs,” states “this new evidence isn't just a challenge to us politically. It doesn't just force us to change our minds. It forces us to change our hearts.” Hari said that it was hard loving the addicts in his life, “It was always tempting to follow the tough love advice doled out by reality shows like Intervention -- tell the addict to shape up, or cut them off. Their message is that an addict who won't stop should be shunned.” After studying Alexander’s experiment Hari realized isolating the addict “will only deepen their addiction –– and you may lose them altogether. I came home determined to tie the addicts in my life closer to me than ever -- to let them know I love them unconditionally, whether they stop, or whether they can't.” Wright sees the role substance abuse played in recent events in Rapid City and understands its long term implications on the community. Long-term substance abusers experiences fewer meaningful interactions with family and friends and become more and more isolated from the community as their addiction progresses. Wright sees how this impacts entire families and knows that family breakdowns are frequent and that children and spouses of addicts suffer from low self-esteem, loneliness, guilt, feelings of helplessness, fears of abandonment, and chronic depression. He knows families need treatment and is looking for solutions. But the answer may hit closer to home than he is comfortable with because and the real cure for addiction, may involve creating a positive, social environment in the Rapid City community for all citizens including Indian people. When looking at the current social environment in Rapid City wherein Indians are incarcerated at higher rates than non-Indians and 60 percent of children in foster homes are Indian Children, factor in the historical atrocities committed against Indians, including the theft of the Black Hills, it is no wonder there are statistically high rates of substance abuse in Indian families. Perhaps a social experiment in Portugal will enlighten city officials to possible solutions. Portugal was facing similar addiction problems wherein 1 percent of the populace was addicted to heroin. But instead of stepping up the “War on Drugs” they decriminalized drugs and used the money they saved from having to arrest and jail addicts to establish housing, jobs and clinics for addicts. “Addicts connected with fellow victims and were gradually re-introduced to society with a new reason to live. The result was a 50 percent decrease in the use of intravenous drugs in the country,” Hari wrote in his book. Hari urges the world to follow Portugal’s example, surrounding addicts with opportunities for fulfillment and support. Wright is aware of other communities in South Dakota who have taken steps to provide an enriched environment for people afflicted with substance abuse and would like to see the same done here in Rapid City. “Sioux Falls built a [Safe] Home where an alcoholic can live out their life,” Wright said. The Sioux Falls Homeless Advisory Board endorsed the nationwide concept of Housing First “which is premised on the notion that housing is a basic human right, and as such should not be denied to anyone, even if they are abusing alcohol or other substances.” In 2011 they completed Safe Home, which is operated by Minnehaha County Human Services and is a Housing First program working with chronically homeless, alcohol-addicted individuals who are residents of the Sioux Falls. The building has 33 individual apartment units and provides supportive services to the participants of the program. “We are all related,” Wright said and would like to see dialog continue in the Rapid City community that will help develop meaningful race relations. (Ernestine Chasing Hawk can be reached at staffwriter2@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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