Manuel Guerro is faced with the heartbreaking reality of drug overdoses on the Alamo Navajo reservation as he walks through the cemetery where his grandson, Ambrose Begay Jr., is buried. Despite a decline in fentanyl deaths nationwide, the reservation is struggling to combat the increasing rates of drug overdoses. Ambrose’s death in 2022 marked the loss of a generation of young Native Americans to drugs.
The high poverty levels and lack of resources on the reservation have contributed to the drug epidemic. Manuel Guerro’s efforts to protect his grandson from drug dealers were in vain, reflecting the challenges faced by many families on the reservation.
Tribal members and advocates are calling for increased police presence, detox and rehabilitation centers, and basic needs like running water and food security. The lack of support from larger authorities, such as the Navajo Nation and the state of New Mexico, has further exacerbated the crisis.
Efforts are being made to address the issue, with individuals like Harold Peralta working to get tribal members into treatment and Myreon Apachito breaking the cycle of addiction in his family. However, more resources and support are needed to combat the growing problem of drug overdoses on the Alamo Navajo reservation.
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