Methamphetamine became a major public health concern among Native Americans in the 2000s. Tribal leaders and reservation police departments consider this epidemic the largest threat to public safety. They attribute to this particular type of drug, the higher rates of domestic violence, assaults, burglaries, and child abuse and neglect on reservations.
Background
Methamphetamine's eastward spread from California included most of
Indian country. However, due to the nature of the substance, it has been created independently in criminal labs on tribal lands and surrounding areas, as well. As in the case of the
Wind River Indian Reservation
The Wind River Indian Reservation, in the west-central portion of the U.S. state of Wyoming, is shared by two Native American tribes, the Eastern Shoshone ( shh, Gweechoon Deka, ''meaning: "buffalo eaters"'') and the Northern Arapaho ( arp, ...
, Mexican drug cartels specifically targeted reservations due to their isolation and complicated drug laws.
The United States federal government recognizes the inherent right of tribes, as "
domestic dependent nations", to outlaw substances on their lands. For example, Montana legally allows the sale of alcohol as does the rest of the United States, but the Crow and Northern Cheyenne reservations in the state prohibit it.
The jurisdictional issues between native and federal law created loopholes and opportunities for the cartels to begin business.
Effects on Indian country
Crime
Reports of crime have escalated since methamphetamine's introduction. FBI offices located in
Indian country estimate that 40 to 50% of the violent crime cases they investigate involve the drug.
The increase is not solely attributed to Native American users. Traffickers, criminal groups, and gang members commit crimes against other groups and Native Americans in order to continue their drug distribution.
According to the
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a federal executive department of the United States government tasked with the enforcement of federal law and administration of justice in the United Stat ...
, the crimes can be divided into three categories: personal crime, such as threats and intimidation; property crime, such as arson, theft, burglary, and vandalism; and violent crime, such as homicide, rape, and aggravated assault.
See also
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Alcohol and Native Americans
Some Native Americans in the United States have been harmed by, or become addicted to, drinking alcohol. Among contemporary Native Americans and Alaska Natives, 11.7% of all deaths are related to alcohol. By comparison, about 5.9% of global d ...
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Modern social statistics of Native Americans
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New World syndrome
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Native American health
Native Americans are affected by noncommunicable illnesses related to social changes and contemporary eating habits. Increasing rates of obesity, poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyle, and social isolation affect many Americans. While subject to the ...
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Indian country jurisdiction
References
External links
* {{URL, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/ , Full Frontline documentary, "The Meth Epidemic"
National Indian Health Board's Methamphetamine & Suicide Prevention Initiative (MSPI)
Methamphetamine in the United States
Native American health
American Indian reservations