But oh, I have plenty to write about alcohol. As my heart beats throughout the grief process and skips from shock to downright anger, I look at all of the efforts of so many people, programs, organizations, agencies, and task forces who have dedicated their time and prevention work on alcohol/substance abuse and impaired driving. Incidents like this one make me wonder, has their work been in vain? Why does it have to be this tragedy, this wake-up call for people to finally realize that the demon of alcohol is out of control and plaguing our tribes and communities?
This is what I mean by the awareness and action factors. Sure, there is plenty of awareness. But when it comes to actual responsibility and accountability...?
From time to time, I've seen posts on the Northern Arapaho Tribe's Facebook group...some folks joking around about "Per Cap-Red Cap" day, or "BYOB" (beer) to a pow wow or event. Listen up: It wasn't funny then and it's not funny now. Alcohol is an abuser and a murderer. You think our EMTs want to keep on arriving on-scene of yet another assault, battery, stabbing, shooting, or suicide attempt due to alcohol/substance abuse? You think they want to see another seizing child or teenager in the back of their ambulance? You think they want to see an infant being born with fetal alcohol syndrome? You think they want to watch patients slowly die of cirrhosis, liver disease, or other chronic organ failures? Do you think our EMS crews are laughing at the sh** they have to see and deal with every day? I was in an ambulance coming back from a standby event in Dubois, and we were behind a drunk driver swerving and driving completely in the other lane...the oncoming car had to pull off onto the shoulder to avoid a head-on!
Think again. It's not funny...it's sad, tragic, and infuriating!
If you want to know the truth about your tribe or community, ask a first responder!
Vehicular Homicide is Murder
The next DUI Task Force meeting is in July, and I still may not be able to find the words to say, but then again, I won't have to. As we all will look at the stats and data presented to us (of which this incident will surely be a part of)...actual solutions continue to be tried and challenged while our communities are still at the mercy of those who drink and drive. It is murder! They choose to drink themselves into oblivion and get behind the wheel of a car. Being that the penal systems are already breaking and broken...and though I'm satisfied that the charge was vehicular homicide (not vehicular manslaughter)...is that enough, given the amount of repeat offenders? Accidents just waiting to happen? Trafficking groomers use "free" alcohol and drugs to entice their already-addicted victims, enticing them to proceed down roads of darkness and death. In my opinion, that's attempted murder!
A driver's license is a privilege, not a right. My rationale is that, if you've been charged with a DUI the first time, there should be a stiff probation period and the license should be suspended until the conditions of rehab/soberness are met before they ever get behind the wheel of any vehicle ever again. But a second time? That's it, they're done! A lengthy prison sentence and no driver's license for the rest of their lives (I could go futher as to require that there should be a condition of soberness for our elected officials, but that's an unrealistic expectation.) And those who sell alcohol should also have a huge responsibility to their communities. (Hey, if you don't feel like voting for the 3/4-cent that supports the ambulance service, how about an indefinite alcohol tax?)
Who is listening? Who will join in the fight against the beasts that continually stalk and prowl around our homes, streets, neighborhood, schools? MMIP Wind River is about the root causes of the missing and murdered, but this is one that continually plagues us, right in our faces! What's it going to take? Another death? I hope and pray that what we've presently experienced will make a lasting impression about the future of alcohol and substance abuse in Wyoming. It is time...past time...to deal with this critical issue.
And if you have a problem with alcohol, get help NOW! Today, this minute. Go to the programs that Wind River Cares and White Buffalo have to offer. Go to an AA or Celebrate Recovery meeting. There are people who care! I'm one of them, and I know there are many, many people...both seen and unseen...who also know and care about the severity of this problem, and are dedicated to helping wherever and whenever they can in dealing with the beasts, both seen and unseen.
It begins with one step forward...for all of us.
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