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Sylvia Wally: ‘Ice’ problems must be addressed collectively
Former Federated States of Micronesia clinical psychiatrist Sylvia Wally agrees with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Region 9 administrator Capt. Jon Perez about funneling community resources to combat drug-related family issues in the CNMI.
Wally agreed with Perez’s statement yesterday during the first-ever CNMI Behavioral Health Conference in the CNMI at Saipan Word Resort.
“We need to be very collective. Substance abuse does not target a certain age population or gender preference. It’s actually open to any age, gender, and lifespan,” said Wally.
She reiterated the importance of collectively tackling this issue, all along addressing the needs of those that are involved in drug-influenced behavior.
“We really need to coordinate our services with all the other [government] agencies to be able to tackle islandwide risk problems. I strongly believe that if we provide the services to the people who need it, in terms of substance abuse associated problems, we are able to identify unique needs, provide those needs based on the collective agencies coming together to provide the unique needs of the people who are at risk of substances related problems,” she said.
Wally believes that options and education must be provided to the community, specifically the families, in order for them to make the appropriate health choices.
“Empowerment is not about strength and courage, but is about educating and penetrating the community, giving them options and choices about the risk, so that [the community] could make well informed health choices for themselves and their families,” she said.
The last day of the first-ever behavioral conference in the CNMI is today, where topics such as drug-related behavior and mental health issues are discussed.
