Seneca Mothers Against Drugs
Submitted by Steve Watt
In response to the problem of opiate and other drug addiction on our territories, the Seneca Mothers Against Drugs (SMAD) has in the past conducted slow rolls on the Cattaraugus Territory to bring attention to the problem. The most recent slow roll was held on June 12, 2022. SMAD conducts these slow rolls to bring needed attention and awareness of the drug problem .
Drug addiction is a pervasive and a complex issue, creating many significant problems in our communities and our homes. Opiate addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behavior and drug use despite harmful consequence. In our region, there has been a 30% increase in opioid relapse and overdose rates since March 2020 and our Seneca people, including our Seneca kids, have been disproportionately impacted. In response to the increase in opioid overdose, there has been a subsequent increase in Narcan administration in our region and again our Seneca population is disproportionately affected.
Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illicit drug heroin, illegally-made fentanyl, as well as the prescription pain relievers oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, fentanyl and others. All of these drugs cause addiction when overuse causes the brain’s natural opiate systems to slow down, requiring the drug user to seek more drugs to get what might have been a natural response.
The next SMAD Slow Roll Against Opiates will be held on July 15, 2022, the Friday before the Marvin “Joe” Curry Pow Wow, on the Allegany Territory, starting at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum grounds. Watch for coverage of the event in the next issue.
