The Seneca Nation has experienced an alarming number of opioid-related deaths. In the past three years there have been 17 recorded deaths for the city of Salamanca, the Cattaraugus Territory, and the Allegany Territory; 14 of those 17 deaths (82.4 %) were Native American individuals. The Seneca Nation’s Cattaraugus Territory experienced an increased number of overdoses and opioid-related deaths in 2020. These increases are likely due, at least in part, to the collateral effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The following table illustrates the 2020 increase:
Seneca Nation Marshals – Cattaraugus Territory
After three years (2017, 2018, and 2019) during which the number of overdoses and drug-related deaths at the Cattaraugus Territory decreased significantly, the number of overdoses jumped to 12 in 2020, almost reaching the high of 14 in 2016, when, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Opioid overdoses [in the United States] accounted for more than 42,000 deaths in 2016, more than any previous year on record” (https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/about-the-epidemic/index.html). Similarly, the Allegany Territory recorded the largest number of overdoses during 2020: a 71.4% increase over the next highest number in 2017. The second highest number of drug-related fatalities (three deaths) also occurred in 2020, exceeded only by four fatalities, also in 2017. The table below details data for the Allegany Territory:
Seneca Nation Marshals – Allegany Territory
The overwhelming challenges we face, in combatting the opiate epidemic in our communities, are multi-faceted. One very important way that our community members can help is to educate yourselves and your families about the disease of addiction. Understand that nobody ever decided they would like to become a drug addict. The disease of addiction is insidious and does not distinguish itself by age, social class or skin color. Understand that we have predatory drug dealers coming on to our territories every day – for the sole purpose of selling drugs to our members. This is not their community. They do not care about the lives of our members or our community. If you are interested in helping to combat this issue in our communities, please review the information on the back page of this edition and get involved. Your help is needed and appreciated!
