Cherokee Indian Hospital was nominated for and received the 2012 IHS National Behavioral Health Achievement Award in the area of Community Mobilization in Substance Abuse Prevention. The Cherokee Indian Hospital Substance Abuse Task Force has been very active in developing a multidisciplinary outpatient-based opioid treatment program. This has been done through a partnership of the Hospital and the A Na Le Ni Sgi Behavioral Health Program.
Cherokee Indian Hospital Substance Abuse Task Force members pose with their 2012 IHS National Behavioral Health Achievement Award. Shown (left-right) are Dr. Robert Ross; Dr. Dominique Toedt; Concheta Dehart; Patty Grant, MSW; Dr. Jennifer Ward; Jan Lambert; and Casey Cooper, Cherokee Indian Hospital CEO. (CIHA Photo)
The format of the program includes group visits and learning sessions and motivational change techniques. The Task Force has involved community elders to address the treatment groups. The inpatient department of the Hospital has also developed policies and protocols to facilitate admission for detox and entry into the program, which continues as an outpatient.
The US all-races death rate from accidental deaths due to overdose due to narcotics is 11 per 100,000 people. The Cherokee community had 13 deaths due to narcotic overdose in 2010 (a rate of 118 per 100,000 population – 10 times the US all-races rate.) Through the actions of the Task Force, the number of accidental deaths from overdose decreased to one death in 2011 (a rate of 9 per 100,000), and there have been no deaths so far in 2012.
The Cherokee Indian Hospital Substance Abuse Task Force team members include: Dr. Mary Anne Farrell, Dr. Lee Hyde, Dr. Robert Ross, Dr. Jennifer Ward, Dr. Dominique Toedt, Wanda Lambert, RN, Concheta DeHart, CNA, Patty Grant, Jan Lambert.
– Cherokee Indian Hospital
