File # 2

Name: Billie Many Moons

Age: 32

Occupation: Construction

Report: Billie has been alcoholic for the past 12 years. It started out as having a few drinks with his friends on the weekends, after a hard work week. It eventually turned into a daily ritual, where he couldn’t start a day without having a shot of tequila. These activities continued up until 2 years ago. Billie decided to go into treatment when his wife Vicky was pregnant with their first child. Billie has been in treatment with Yellow Creek Treatment Center for little over a year. The first year he tried to cut cold turkey from his alcohol. He was successful the first 7 months, but fell off the wagon during the 8th month. He decided to try Yellow Creek’s culture treatment to help kick his habit of alcohol before his child was brought into this world.

Setting: Counselor Yazzie’s office.

Counselor Yazzie: (Shakes hand) Hi Billie!

Billie: Good Morning, doc!

Counselor Yazzie: How are you doing on this beautiful morning? Especially since this is your last meeting here as a client. (Smiles)

Billie: Yes, it’s my last day here as a client. (Chuckles) Can you believe I’ve been here a year now! I never thought I’d make it to this point. I am so thankful that I joined this program. I don’t know if I would have made it without this treatment center. Especially since I found a treatment that suits me my first try.

Counselor Yazzie: We all need a support system of some kind. You’ve done very well and made a tremendous recovery. Let me ask you a question: Have you heard about the “aging out” phenomenon?

Billie: No.

Counselor Yazzie: It is a term that describes Navajo men who solve their drinking problems without recourse to formal alcoholism treatment programs. Meaning, these men stop drinking without any treatments. It is called the “aging out” phenomenon. Some Navajo male alcoholics stop drinking because of concerns such as health, a death of a loved one, influence of children, and culture influence. These are just a few examples.

Billie: Is it just among the Navajo men?

Counselor Yazzie: No, it is found in many other tribes as well.

Billie: So they stopped drinking for their traditions, family or their health without any a treatment?

Counselor Yazzie: Yes! Just like you did for those 7 months.

Setting: Billie’s first meeting with counselor Yazzie, a year earlier.

Counselor Yazzie: You joined this cultural treatment voluntarily. Do you want to tell me more about it?

Billie: Well, I’ve been drinking for almost 12 years now. I think it’s about time that I stop, especially since my wife; Vicky is having our first child in less than a month.

Counselor Yazzie: That’s great news. Congratulations! But you sound a little doubtful.

Billie: Well, I always thought when I have my first child I’d be a good father. I don’t think drinking all the time counts as a good father. I want to provide a strong home and a strong culture for my child.

Counselor Yazzie: (Looking at the folder) It says here you went without drinking for about 7 months, then you started to drink again. (In a concerned voice) What happened?

Billie: I don’t know! (Slumps in chair) I started to get a lot of pressure of becoming a father. I just couldn’t handle it anymore. So I took a drink. Then one drink led to another and before I knew it, I was pretty wasted. My family was pretty disappointed in me. I couldn’t stand the disappointing and hurt look on my wife’s face. That’s when I knew I needed to get some help.

Setting: Back to counselor Yazzie’s office.

Billie: You think I could’ve of stopped drinking without Yellow Creek?

Counselor Yazzie: There is a possibility. I’m just saying when I person has the inner strength to change, they can. We all have the strength. We don’t all have to have a program to be sober. However, it’s also good to have a support system behind you when you feel like you can’t keep going, like the pressure you were feeling. The support system doesn’t have to be from a program like Yellow Creek, but family and friends can also be your support system.

Billie: Yeah! Going to all those sweat lodges and talking to everyone in our circle has really helped me. It has given me the inner power to continue my path of sobriety. It also has helped me on my spiritual path. I now have the strength, courage and faith to provide my daughter with a strong home and a strong culture. This program even involved my wife and family. (Link to Family support)

Counselor Yazzie: I am happy to hear that Billie. You’ve been a great help and an inspiration to others. It has been a pleasure working with you and I’m looking forward to working with you as my co-worker. So you’re going to run the sweat lodge for the center from here on out? Well, I’ll see you at the next sweat lodge. (Smiles and shakes hand)

Billie: I’ll see you next week doc. Nah! I’ll see you my friend.

Back to Counselor Yazzie’s Introduction

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