Indian Leader Targets Meth

Tribes call drug a new evil, seek help to fight it

From: Albuquerque Tribune
James W. BrosnanScripps Howard News
WASHINGTON - National Congress of Indians

President Joe Garcia is calling for a partnership between the tribes and federal, state and local governments to combat methamphetamine, which some Indian leaders say is replacing alcohol as the scourge of reservations. "It exists in all of the country, but it exists worse in Indian Country," Garcia said Monday during the legislative summit of the Congress. "Methamphetamine is killing our children, affecting our culture and ravaging our communities."


It was the second set of tough-on-crime remarks since Garcia, the governor of Ohkay Owingeh, formerly San Juan Pueblo, was chosen as president of the Congress in November. Several other tribal leaders and representatives praised Garcia for his focus on the drug issue. Kathleen Kitcheyan, chairwoman of the San Carlos Apache in Arizona, said methamphetamine has surpassed alcohol and marijuana among the most abused drugs on her reservation. She said there have been 84 suicides in her tribe since 2002, some directly related to methamphetamine abuse.

Last year, 63 babies were born addicted
to methamphetamine because of use
by their mothers, Kitcheyan said.

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