The Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP), in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Native American Youth Influencers (NAYI), has initiated a campaign aimed at empowering Native American youth in Osage County to embrace positive life choices and reject underage alcohol and drug misuse. This initiative promotes activities like basketball, fishing, family bonding, dancing, academics, football, art, music, friendships, culture, and softball as constructive alternatives to substance misuse.
Osage County is home to various Native American tribes, including the Osage, Cherokee, Muscogee Creek, and Choctaw Nations, each with a rich history of resilience and fortitude. This campaign underscores the importance of each community member, regardless of age, as a bearer of culture and the significant impact of their decisions on future generations.
The campaign addresses common myths about underage substance use with factual information, highlighting the reality that not all youth engage in alcohol consumption and that parental guidance plays a critical role in preventing underage drinking. It also emphasizes the negative impacts of substance misuse on academic and emotional well-being, countering the myth that underage drinking and drug use do not have long-term effects.
Key messages of the campaign include the real risks associated with excessive alcohol use and opioid misuse, as outlined by SAMHSA, and the potential for positive engagement in cultural traditions and healthy hobbies to enhance the lives and communities of Native youth. Personal testimonials, such as that of T.J. Tanyan, highlight the value of culture and the personal choice to abstain from drugs and alcohol in favour of a future filled with pride and achievement.
Tom Anderson, the Executive Director of AAIP, stresses the critical role of Native youth in preserving and enriching Native cultures. The campaign, re-launched ahead of World Teen Mental Wellness Day, seeks to destigmatize mental health challenges and raise awareness of the link between mental health issues and substance misuse among teens.
With statistics from Mental Health America revealing that the onset of mental health disorders often begins by age 14, and a significant overlap between mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders, the “Say Yes” campaign is a timely intervention. It aims to encourage higher academic achievements, less anxiety and depression among youth engaged in sports, and overall better mental health through abstention from alcohol.
This initiative is a testament to the power of saying “yes” to positive alternatives and “no” to underage alcohol and drug misuse. Its goal is to enable Native American youth to become proud bearers of their rich cultural heritage and contributors to the thriving of their communities.
For more information visit sayyesaaip.org (USA, March 2024)
Alcohol Awareness 