HEALTH COACH - With alcoholism Creeping on booking nearby, Nebraska Shuts Township Liquor Stores: The Salt: NPR

HEALTH COACH -

 With alcoholism Creeping on booking nearby, Nebraska Shuts Township Liquor Stores: The Salt: NPR  









The liquor stores in the town of Whiteclay, Neb., Are now officially closed. But even members of the Oglala Sioux tribe say that more needs to be done to reduce undesirable levels of alcoholism on the Pine Ridge Reserve.



Jim Kent for NPR


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Jim Kent for NPR





 



 Alcohol shops in the town of Whiteclay, Neb., Are now officially closed. But even members of the Oglala Sioux tribe say that more needs to be done to reduce undesirable levels of alcoholism on the Pine Ridge Reserve. 


Jim Kent for NPR





 The battle on the liquor stores in the tiny Whiteclay, Neb., Lasted several decades. To about a dozen people, the city was called a "rural skid row". The images of the people of Lakota who drink openly in the city or who stagger in its streets are commonplace. 
 
 But now, this easy access to alcohol is gone. 
 
 State Liquor Board closed the four controversial liquor stores in Whiteclay. Together, stores sold 4 million cans of beer each year - mostly to residents of the adjacent Indian Reserve Pine Ridge, which bans alcohol. Store owners are appealing the Nebraska Liquor Control Board, but it could take months. 
 
 Andrew Iron Shell sees closures as a huge step forward for residents of the border reserve, where it is estimated that 50 percent of the adult population is fighting against the abuse of alcohol. 
 
 "This is a victory for the community," says Iron Shell, who has several years of sobriety under his belt. He works for a nonprofit Lakota focused on reconnecting tribal members with their culture. 
 


 


 
 "It has been a fierce battle on many fronts," he said. "But I also think that this is an opportunity to bring communities together to bring people to the same value system on life and well-being and create economic opportunities that benefit the region as a whole" . 
 
 The city 's business figure comes from sales of alcohol stores. What remains here is a savings store, a small grocery store, an auto parts business and lots of vacant buildings. That is why the members of the Whiteclay Working Group will meet here next week to discuss economic development. 
 
 But Loren Paul, a county commissioner here, labeled "do-gooders" who he says lacks two key points: the rights of small business owners to exploit their establishments and their Responsibilities. 
 
 "No one means that alcoholism is the problem and the addict is the problem and we have to start there," says Paul. If you are an addict, you are going to have access to that, so in my opinion what we had before was a problem that nobody liked , But it must be addressed on the side of the addict, but we had a controlled environment - we knew where the problem was. "
 
 Now, Paul maintains that the problem of alcohol has been spread Four winds and those in need will travel south to Rushville, Neb., North to Rapid City, SD, or wherever they need to get some alcohol. He says it puts more people at risk. 
 
 Two miles north of Whiteclay, Talea Merrival guards at the Big Bat gas station in the village of Pine Ridge. She thinks the closure of the liquor stores is good for booking, but calls it a tape help solution. 
 
 "I do not really think that the closure of the city of Whiteclay, regarding alcohol, will change on the reservation.There will probably be more smugglers on the reservation. Made it more convenient when he was in Whiteclay, but that will not stop them from getting the alcohol himself. "
 
 Merrival says Whiteclay served as a practical goal for those Who are concerned about the high alcoholism of the reservation. But if real changes are expected, she says that the Oglala Sioux tribe will not only have to try to stop local smugglers, but also to work harder to set up rehabilitation programs.