Resident Urging Kratom Ban On Reservation
With growing concerns regarding the use of Kratom in the area, some residents are urging the Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board to approve a resolution for the banning of the substance on the reservation.
One of those individuals is Danielle Kawasaki who sent testimony to Sergeant at Arms Bruce Damon. The testimony was read to tribal leaders last Thursday.
Kawasaki wrote, “I am an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes. I am sharing a small part of my story today because I believe Kratom has the potential to become another addiction epidemic in our community. Because of this, I feel strongly that we need to act now to protect our people.”
She explained why she believed Kratom was safe. “Kratom is a plant from Southeast Asia that is made into things like teas, powders and capsules. When I was first introduced to it, it was marketed to me as an all-natural herbal drink that would help you relax. What started as an occasional drink slowly became part of my daily routine. Before I fully understood what was happening, my body had already become dependent on Kratom. I had gone from drinking it once a week to feeling like I needed it just to feel normal. By the time I realized how deeply Kratom was affecting my life, so much had already changed.”
She says she was fully addicted. There was no longer any way for her to ignore what Kratom had become in her life. “I knew I had reached a point where I needed to make a change. After going through painful withdrawals, I was able to get sober. I began picking up the remnants of my barely recognizable life.”
She continued that Knowing how easily this can happen to a person is what makes her so concerned about Kratom being available in the community. “Our people already know the devastation addiction can bring to individuals, families and entire communities. I don’t want us to wait until Kratom becomes a larger problem within our community before we decide something needs to be done. I cannot change my experience with Kratom, but I can speak about it. If sharing my story helps someone else understand the risks a little sooner than I did, then I am thankful I have the opportunity to share it.”
TEB member Jestin Dupree said, “We all mentioned the need for an assessment on it. We asked for a health update for our tribal health director.”
Dupree said tribal members with concerns for the council should send their information directly to board and committee members, rather than using social media or read testimony, TEB member Roxanne Gourneau reported, “Last week we urged our prosecutors office to collaborate with our Tribal Health Department to research and bring forth everything on this Kratom. Whether true or untrue we been told that the State of North Dakota has banned the sale of this product. At this point we will wait on what information is brought to the council before any action is taken.”
AJ Allen, prevention specialist in Roosevelt County, says he knows of three Wolf Point businesses that carry Kratom. One product looks similar to an energy drink container. Allen also expresses concerns that there are no age restrictions regarding purchasing Kratom.
Allen said, “Our Montana legislators are trying to come up with something for the session that starts in January. It is something that the legislators are looking into.”
