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SITKA - September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, and the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) is partnering with community programs to host special events in Sitka, Haines and Prince of Wales Island during this month.

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month is hosted nationally by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). This year's theme is "Join the Voices for Recovery: Now More Than Ever."

Alcohol and substance abuse issues have had tragic effects on Alaska. According to the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics, in 2005 Alaska Natives had an alcohol-induced death rate more than four times as high as whites. Alaska consistently has had an alcohol-induced death rate more than twice that of the rest of the United States, and Alaska Natives account for almost half of these deaths. The 2008 state-sponsored Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) estimates 16 percent of Southeast Alaska adults have binged on alcohol in the past month and 6.5 percent are heavy/chronic users. The estimated 15.5 percent of Southeast Alaska adults who have ever abused or been dependent on alcohol is more than double the U.S. rate.

To help people in their recovery, SEARHC offers three residential substance abuse treatment centers in Sitka - Yéil Jeeyáx Raven's Way for adolescents (ages 13-18), Gunaanastí Bill Brady Healing Center for adults and Déilee Hít Safe Harbor House for women. SEARHC provides outpatient alcohol and substance abuse treatment through its Haa Toowóo Náakw Hít behavioral health clinic in Sitka, its Juneau Behavioral Health Clinic, and through the Community Family Services program in 10 communities - Angoon, Craig, Haines, Hoonah, Hydaburg, Kake, Klawock, Klukwan, Pelican and Petersburg. SEARHC also offers a Behavioral Health Prevention Program that works with schools and youth groups to prevent youth alcohol and substance abuse use in Angoon, Haines, Juneau, Kake, Klawock, Klukwan and Sitka. In addition, SEARHC offers a toll-free 24/7 SEARHC Help Line at 1-877-294-0074 for Southeast residents who need help in a crisis.

In Sitka, the SEARHC Behavioral Health Division is partnering with Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV), Sitka Tribe of Alaska (STA), Sitka Counseling And Prevention Services (SCAPS) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sitka to offer a series of weekly recovery events on Saturdays during September. In Haines, the SEARHC Behavioral Health office also is hosting its first Recovery Month event in partnership with the Chilkoot Indian Association. The third annual Prince of Wales Sobriety Walk is part of an all-day event in Craig that includes a basketball tournament, bicycle rodeo, children's events and potluck dinner, which is held in partnership with the Klawock Senior Center. Also on Prince of Wales, school presentations about drug and alcohol use will be made at various times during the month for Kasaan elementary students, all Klawock students, Craig High School students and Craig elementary/middle school students.

National Recovery Month Events

SITKA, Saturday, Sept. 4, 5-10 p.m. - Potluck and talking circle, SEARHC Community Health Services building first-floor conference room, Contact: Harry Bradley, 966-8655.

SITKA, Saturday, Sept. 11, noon-5 p.m. - Canoe journey/ceremony, Hashagoon Drum and open mike, meet at noon at Mt. Edgecumbe High School boat ramp for paddle in Sitka Sound that will end at the ramp behind Harrigan Centennial Hall, Contact: Harry Bradley, 966-8655..

SITKA, Saturday, Sept. 18, 3-7 p.m. - Sobriety walk from Sheet'ká Kwáan Naa Kahídi tribal house to the Yei éek kwa néix Wellbriety totem pole in front of the SEARHC Community Health Services building, followed by an open mike with totem pole carver Wayne Price as guest, Contact: Harry Bradley, 966-8655..

SITKA, Saturday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m.-midnight - Sobriety potlatch celebration with ceremony, dancing and drumming, at SEARHC Community Health Services building first-floor conference room, Contact: Harry Bradley, 966-8655..

HAINES, Saturday, Sept. 25, 6-11 p.m. - National Recovery Month potlatch and dance at Alaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood Hall, Contact: ReGina Rioux, 766-6379.

CRAIG, Saturday, Sept. 25, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. - Prince of Wales Sobriety Walk at Craig High School, events include a two-mile scenic walk around Craig about 11 a.m., a basketball tournament, bicycle rodeo, children's events and a community potluck dinner about 5 p.m., Contact Richard Hamilton, 755-4935.