Mission
Our mission is to enhance and support the quality of life through comprehensive, innovative, and transitional services. Designed for the underserved, under privileged and disadvantaged citizens in our community.
Vision
Our vision is to increase public awareness and to support and serve as advocates to the homeless, chronic inebriate or substance abuse citizens in our community who are seeking help through transitional services.
News
Our Community
Drug Situation: Due to its close proximity to the Pacific Rim and shared border with Canada, Alaska is both a transshipment point for controlled substances to the continental United States and a consumer state. Historically, drug trends documented in the other states are eventually documented in Alaska. This includes the growing threat of Methamphetamine, Ecstasy, GHB and other "Predatory Drugs." Alaska has the highest per capita incidence of Alcoholism, rape, and suicide in the United States, partially attributable to controlled substance abuse.
Cocaine: There are many different Cocaine trafficking organizations in Alaska. Some of the largest ones are predominantly Mexican and Dominican groups, however Eastern Europeans are also involved. East coast Albanian organized crime groups have recently begun to distribute Cocaine into Alaska. Most Cocaine appears to come into Alaska from the West Coast of the U.S. One Cocaine smuggling organization in Alaska offered to sell one kilogram of Cocaine for as high as $39,000. Cocaine and other drugs are distributed throughout the State mainly from Anchorage and Fairbanks, all the way to remote fishing villages and northern rural areas.
Heroin: Evidence of Heroin has declined due to much of the user population now illegally acquiring and using OxyContin. Opium continues to be transshipped through Alaska from the Far East/Pacific Rim countries.
Methamphetamine: Alaska is experiencing an increase in the availability of crystal Methamphetamine. Small toxic labs continue to be found throughout the state. The pseudoephedrine reduction method is the common manufacturing method used. Availability seems to be increasing, both from local labs and from Methamphetamine mailed or shipped into the state by various methods, mostly from the Western U.S. Alaska, along with other states in the Seattle Division, is experiencing an increase in the availability of crystal Methamphetamine.
Predatory Drugs: There is recent evidence of large quantities of GBL being transshipped through Alaska from Thailand to various "lower 48" states. MDMA (methylene-dioxy-Methamphetamine), also known as Ecstasy, is a growing threat throughout the state. Prior to 1999, there were no reports or direct evidence of large quantities of MDMA in any form. In recent years, MDMA seizures have increased dramatically. Raves continue to occur in Alaska, with the accompanying use of Predatory Drugs found at these events. In late 2003 a female died in Anchorage, AK from an overdose of GHB. LSD remains available in the state, mostly in the university areas.
Marijuana: Marijuana is the most abused and widespread illegal drug in Alaska. Local law enforcement can only estimate the extent of Marijuana abuse because less than 5% of the Marijuana in Alaska is grown outdoors. This makes detection much more difficult. Recently, BC Bud Marijuana from British Columbia, Canada has begun to make its way to Alaska along the Transcontinental Highway.
Other Drugs: The diversion of various controlled substances regulated by prescription is growing. Alaska is one of the top five purchasing states for five of the top twelve diverted drugs, to include Fentanyl, D-Amphetamine, Oxycodone, methadone and Meperidine. Benzodiazepine is also widely abused. Internet purchases of controlled substances, from both domestic and international sites, are on the rise.
DEA Regional Enforcement Teams: This program was designed to augment existing DEA division resources by targeting drug organizations operating in the United States where there is a lack of sufficient local drug law enforcement. This Program was conceived in 1999 in response to the threat posed by drug trafficking organizations that have established networks of cells to conduct drug trafficking operations in smaller, non-traditional trafficking locations in the United States. As of January 31, 2005, there have been 27 deployments nationwide, and one deployment in the U.S. Virgin Islands, resulting in 671 arrests. There have been no RET deployments in the State of Alaska. (www.usnodrugs.com/Alaska/City-List, 2009.)
Meth
A person caught up in the search for drugs reminds Alaska Native leader Katie John of a mosquito that flies from person to person seeking a blood meal while risking death. Don't follow the example of Alaska's most notorious insect, she warned delegates at the AFN/First Alaskans Elders and Youth Conference at the Carlson Center on Tuesday.
"Just be good," the Mentasta Lake elder said. John, known statewide for her stand on subsistence rights, spoke after a panel discussion about the effects of drugs and alcohol among Alaska Native youth.
The state has the highest occurrence of drug abuse per capita in the nation, said Tim Burgess, the U.S. attorney for Alaska. He showed a series of photos of young methamphetamine users. Instead of appearing vibrant and alive, they had empty eyes, sunken cheeks, missing teeth and, in some cases, scabby skin. Long-term meth use causes users to scratch their skin bloody in pursuit of imaginary bugs. It also dries out the mouth, causing teeth to rot and fall out. A gasp arose from the crowd at the sight of a haggard woman whose photos documented her descent from runaway teen to hardened prostitute to an addled, aged woman in only a few years.
"It's inexpensive to buy, but it has a very huge cost on your body," he said.
Meth, also known at crank, glass or ice, has been making an appearance in Alaska but hasn't reached the staggering rates of use found in the Lower 48, Burgess said. The drug is sniffed, smoked and injected. Two types of methamphetamine can be found in Alaska. The first is imported in "super labs," large illegal manufacturing facilities. Those labs are being shut down in the United States, he said, but are popping up in Mexico. The other kind comes from smaller, home labs. Meth is made from a variety of common household ingredients such as brake fluid and drain cleaner. The byproducts are toxic. For every pound of methamphetamine, 6 pounds of deadly byproducts are produced. Young children of meth users are often exposed to those toxic chemicals, he said. Many times police find children in home labs coated with a fine powder of methamphetamine and other harmful chemicals. The labs are volatile and children could suffer severe burns.
Burgess urged young people to resist the highly addictive and body-altering drug. It does produce a high--the first time it's used--but addicts are compelled to seek that elusive high again and again, he said. Loss of appetite and sleep are short-term side effects. But after continued use, psychosis and brain damage is irreversible. Use of the drug also increases the prevalence of HIV because it causes people to lose inhibitions or share needles.
"By the time I see someone, it's almost too late," he said. "This is having a devastating impact around the Lower 48. It's something you need to know about."
Elders in the audience spoke of the need for young people to remember their responsibility to lead the next generation of Alaska Natives. "The only way I know is to have respect for elders and to have a good home life," said Iver Malutin of Kodiak. (www.usnodrugs.com/Alaska/City-List, 2009.)
Off The Road
The Anchorage Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association (Anchorage CHARR) sponsors Off the Road -a program that makes Anchorage's streets safer by giving free rides home to impaired drivers and their cars. Anchorage CHARR represents more than 200 restaurants, bars, hotels and tourism related businesses around town. There are presently 63 participating establishments in the off the road program.
In the Off the Road program, a participating licensed establishment calls a taxi to request service. This is a crucial first step and participants must make sure that the establishment and not the patron makes the phone call.
Many who drink and drive claim they cannot afford to leave their vehicles at the place they have been drinking due to time constraints, safety, work and distance. That's why Off the Road responds with two taxis. The patron's rides in one taxi while the driver of the second taxi follows in the patron's car so the car is at home and ready for work the next day.
Off the Road is available from Rabbit Creek Road to Fort Richardson and all stops in between. The ride is only from the participating establishment to the patron's home. Off the Road is funded by; government grants, corporate sponsors, licensed establishments and the hospitality industry. For more information call AHF at 907.677.2553.
Current Program Members
A few of the proud Anchorage CHARR members whom are Off the Road participants are as follows:
Anchor Pub & Grill Anchorage Moose Family Center Avenue Bar
Bear's Tooth Bernie's Bungalow Blue Fox
Bradley House Buckaroo Club Café Amsterdam
Carpentier's Lounge Chilkoot Charlies Club Elixir
Crossroads Lounge Darwin's Theory Eagleglen Golf Course
F Street Station Fantasies on 5th Flight Deck
Frat. Order of Eagles 4207 Gallo's Mexican Restaurant Garcia's Mexican Restaurant
Gaslight Lounge George's Homestead Glacier Brewhouse
Great Alaskan Bush Company Gwennies Restaurant Hacienda Mexican Restaurant
Jens Restaurant La Cabana Mexican Restaurant Long Branch Saloon
Moose's Tooth Orso's Petroleum Club of Anchorage
Pioneer Bar Polar Bowl Post 2
Post 49 Reilly's Romano's Restaurant
Rumrunners Sea Galley Time Out Lounge
VFW 10252Woodshed