Changing ATOD norms and behaviors: A Native American community commitment to wellness

Abstract

In September 1991, a five-year CSAP-funded community substance abuse prevention program was launched in this Native American community. A small (550 member) rural community, it had a history of serious alcohol and drug problems. The Chi-e-chee (“workers”) grass-roots program sought to address substance abuse through a strategy using community collaboration between tribal agencies, community empowerment and education, cultural enhancement, and development of support networks and services for people engaged in healing and recovery. This program was successful in sponsoring over 215 cultural and educational events, and has resulted in 96 community members making a commitment to sobriety, a community wide change in norms about wellness and substance abuse, the creation of new networks of communication and collaboration, and new tribal policies and enforcement practices to curtail drug and alcohol abuse. The number of clean and sober individuals was determined to have increased from 25% of the adult population in 1992 to 40% of the adult population in 1996.