Juneau, AK (March 27, 2018) – Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) has formed an Addiction Action Committee to increase capacity to address and help reduce opioid and other substance addictions in Tlingit & Haida’s communities. The committee will focus its efforts on expanding resources and access to addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies and will develop cultural solutions that address public safety and related drug court issues that stem from addiction. In addition to examining existing data on the issues associated with substance addiction, the committee will develop a monitoring system that evaluates the progress made in combating these addictions.

 

According to the Alaska Opioid Policy Task Force’s 2017 report, the rate of heroin poisoning resulting in hospital admissions doubled from 2008-2012, the number of heroin-associated deaths more than tripled in Alaska from 2008-2013 and the rate of heroin-associated deaths in Alaska was 42% higher than the United States overall in 2012.

 

“Addiction is an extremely negative impact on our people and now with the ever increasing opioid crisis, we are seeing even more hurt and devastation,” said President Richard Peterson. “It’s time that we come together and work towards meaningful solutions. We need to build collaborative relationships with municipal, state and federal governments, as well as with medical providers and other institutions. This is no longer their problem – it’s our problem collectively and it is collectively that we will solve this issue. It is with this in mind that I’ve decided the time is right to form a committee made up of all of our communities. I am thankful to our chosen Delegates to serve on this committee and especially to our committee chair Jackie Pata for stepping up to address addiction head-on.”

 

The committee is comprised of the following Tlingit & Haida Delegates: