Binge drinking reaches deep across U.S.

Beyond single culture
Kelby Inmon, a counselor at the Native American Resource Center in Trenton, in the northwestern part of the state, said the alcoholism rate seems higher for American Indians in North Dakota. But Wright said it’s a problem off the state’s four reservations as well.

“I don’t think we can pin it on any one culture,” Wright said. “Our results would indicate a problem with or without the reservations.”

Inmon, who has been counseling alcoholics for 25 years, said some people try to medicate their feelings. “It comes down to people not having hope in life,” he said. “Something at the core is missing.”

Inmon earlier worked as an alcohol counselor in Oregon, where the binge-drinking rate is well below the national average. He said alcohol use is more “culturally accepted” in North Dakota and many communities’ social activities revolve around booze.

“A lot of these little rural towns have nothing — except for a bar,” Inmon said.

Dealing with 'cultural acceptance'
First lady Mikey Hoeven has been leading a campaign to stop underage and binge drinking.

“It’s a huge problem that unfortunately is not something that is new,” Hoeven said. “There is no quick fix to this. I think there is cultural acceptance. It’s not an easy problem.”

The campaign, aimed at children, appears on television, billboards and in some class rooms.

“We want to hit the kids on the front end before they become addicted as adults,” Hoeven said.

Inmon said addiction starts — and ends — with the individual.

“Treatment doesn’t work unless the individual is motivated and wants it to work,” he said. “They have had to have counted the costs in their life.”

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