The Opioid Crisis Among Native Americans and Alaska Natives in Washington State: A Battle Against Addiction and a Call for More Funding and Resources

The opioid crisis in the United States has been a pressing issue for several years, with the number of deaths related to opioid overdoses increasing dramatically. This crisis has affected various communities across the country, including Native Americans and Alaska Natives in Washington state. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Native Americans and Alaska Natives in Washington state die of opioid overdoses at five times the state average. This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need for more funding and resources to combat this issue in these communities.

The Lummi Nation, a tribe of about 5,300 people located near Bellingham, Washington, has been particularly affected by the opioid crisis. The tribe has already suffered nearly one overdose death a week this year, with the majority of these deaths being attributed to fentanyl. The tribe’s crisis outreach supervisor, Evelyn Jefferson, has witnessed the devastating impact of opioids on her community firsthand. She lost her own son to an opioid overdose just five months ago, making her mission to provide her people with the necessary resources to combat addiction.

The Washington Legislature has taken steps to address this issue by approving a bill that is expected to provide nearly $8 million total each year for the 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington. This funding, drawn in part from a roughly half-billion-dollar settlement between the state and major opioid distributors, is a crucial step in providing much-needed resources to tribes like Lummi that are trying to keep opioids from taking the next generation.

However, the proposed funding is only a starting point, and many tribes, including Lummi Nation, say it would barely scratch the surface. The tribe needs $12 million to fully finance a 16-bed, secure medical detox facility that incorporates the tribe’s culture. They also require funds to construct a new counseling center after damage from flooding. These costs far exceed the annual total that would be designated for tribes under the legislation.

The Lummi Nation, as a sovereign nation, wants to take care of its people and is self-governed. However, they face a significant challenge when it comes to keeping outside drug dealers off their land. The complicated jurisdictional maze means that tribal police often cannot arrest non-tribal members on the reservation. This issue highlights the need for law changes and good policies to effectively combat the opioid crisis in these communities.

The proposed measure would earmark funds deposited into an opioid settlement account for tribes battling addiction. Tribes are expected to receive $7.75 million or 20% of the funds deposited into the account the previous fiscal year—whichever is greater—annually. Republican state Sen. John Braun, one of the bill’s sponsors, envisions the funds being distributed through a grant program. He acknowledges that if the funds are not distributed equitably or if they are not enough, he is willing to address these issues.

The opioid overdose deaths for Native Americans and Alaska Natives in Washington have increased dramatically in the past few years, with at least 100 in 2022—75 more than in 2019. In response, Lummi Nation declared a state of emergency over fentanyl and implemented measures such as adding drug-sniffing dogs and checkpoints, while revoking bail for drug-related charges. They have also opened a seven-bed facility to help members with withdrawal and get them on medication for opioid use disorder.

However, the battle against addiction in these communities goes beyond just what the tribes can do on their own. The need for a bigger safety net and additional vital resources to combat the opioid crisis requires action from Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and President Joe Biden. The tribes have urged both leaders to declare states of emergency in response to the opioid crisis to create a more comprehensive approach to addressing this issue.

In the encampment in Bellingham, Jefferson estimates there are more than 60 tribal members, some of whom she recognizes as her son’s friends. She suspects many of them have left the reservation to avoid the tribe’s crackdown on opioids. When she visits them, she wears the shirt her niece gave her the day after her son died, which reads, “fight fentanyl like a mother.” She believes that someone’s presence and care might encourage those struggling with addiction to seek treatment.

The opioid crisis among Native Americans and Alaska Natives in Washington state is a battle against addiction and a call for more funding and resources. The proposed funding is a crucial step in providing much-needed resources to tribes, but it is only the beginning. The need for law changes, good policies, and a more comprehensive approach to addressing this issue requires action from various levels of government and the community. The lives of countless individuals depend on it.