JESSICA Jessica is a 34-year-old who became a paraplegic in college after a freak basketball accident. She now works in a government agency as a records clerk. While her job is secure and she earns enough to cover her bills and save some, she has been depressed for the past 10 years. She has been hospitalized on two occasions when she became suicidal, stating that her life was not worth living. She has some family support, but her father is very distant, and her mother busy with a job and children still in high school. After her accident, Jessica began smoking marijuana occasionally. Eventually, the pattern of use was every weekend and day off, and now she smokes some nearly every day. She is able to function in her job, but is listless. She believes that she cannot cope with the pain of life unless she is high most of the time. One day she comes to work smelling of pot. Her boss, who is an understanding woman, speaks with Jessica about the absolute necessity that she never come to work smelling of marijuana again, or her job will be in jeopardy. Video:Mary: Jessica, you are a valuable and responsible part of our staff here. I have depended on you for many things over the past years, and you have always been reliable. However, today you came in smelling like marijuana, according to several people in the office and—I want to be honest with you—there is an odor of marijuana around you now. I am not here to lecture you or to report you. I want to help you. Can you tell me what is happening? Jessica: I need this job, Mary. Will you promise me that what I tell you stays between us? Mary: Jessica, as long as you never come in to the office smelling of pot again, this can stay between us. However, if the problems persist, I will be required to take other action. I could not allow someone to come to work drunk day after day, could I? Jessica: No, I suppose not. OK, I trust you, and you have always been honest with me. What is bothering me is nothing new, and I am sure will not be a surprise to you. I just do not have much to live for. My life was ruined by the spinal injury. The world for me is reduced to a constant struggle to perform basic things like going to the bathroom, preparing food, getting in and out of cars, asking for help, and never being able to have the life that I dreamed of before. There have been times when I had hope that I could have a more or less normal life, or even have a modicum of happiness. But now, after fifteen years as a paraplegic, I don't see any hope. It will always be this daily struggle, and what for? I know that I am smoking too much dope, but it does help me to get through the day. For a little while, I actually feel good after getting high, and then afterwards I am just numb and I can get through the day. Is not that better than just being miserable all the time? I promise you that I won't come in to work ever again smelling like pot. Mary: Thank you, Jessica, for being so honest with me. I think there is more ho.

1. JESSICA
Jessica is a 34-year-old who became a paraplegic in college
after a freak basketball accident. She now works in a
government agency as a records clerk. While her job is secure
and she earns enough to cover her bills and save some, she has
been depressed for the past 10 years. She has been hospitalized
on two occasions when she became suicidal, stating that her life
was not worth living. She has some family support, but her
father is very distant, and her mother busy with a job and
children still in high school. After her accident, Jessica began
smoking marijuana occasionally. Eventually, the pattern of use
was every weekend and day off, and now she smokes some
nearly every day. She is able to function in her job, but is
listless. She believes that she cannot cope with the pain of life
unless she is high most of the time. One day she comes to work
smelling of pot. Her boss, who is an understanding woman,
speaks with Jessica about the absolute necessity that she never
come to work smelling of marijuana again, or her job will be in
jeopardy.
Video:Mary: Jessica, you are a valuable and responsible part of
our staff here. I have depended on you for many things over the
past years, and you have always been reliable. However, today
you came in smelling like marijuana, according to several
people in the office and—I want to be honest with you—there is
an odor of marijuana around you now. I am not here to lecture
you or to report you. I want to help you. Can you tell me what is
happening?
Jessica: I need this job, Mary. Will you promise me that what I
tell you stays between us?
Mary: Jessica, as long as you never come in to the office
smelling of pot again, this can stay between us. However, if the
problems persist, I will be required to take other action. I could
not allow someone to come to work drunk day after day, could
I?

2. Jessica: No, I suppose not. OK, I trust you, and you have always
been honest with me. What is bothering me is nothing new, and
I am sure will not be a surprise to you. I just do not have much
to live for. My life was ruined by the spinal injury. The world
for me is reduced to a constant struggle to perform basic things
like going to the bathroom, preparing food, getting in and out of
cars, asking for help, and never being able to have the life that I
dreamed of before. There have been times when I had hope that
I could have a more or less normal life, or even have a modicum
of happiness. But now, after fifteen years as a paraplegic, I
don't see any hope. It will always be this daily struggle, and
what for? I know that I am smoking too much dope, but it does
help me to get through the day. For a little while, I actually feel
good after getting high, and then afterwards I am just numb and
I can get through the day. Is not that better than just being
miserable all the time? I promise you that I won't come in to
work ever again smelling like pot.
Mary: Thank you, Jessica, for being so honest with me. I think
there is more hope that you are seeing now. Would you be
willing to consider counseling for help?
JOHN
John is a 28-year-old Native American man who has been
abusing alcohol since high school. At present, John has a
responsible position administering a tribal public assistance
program. John is affable, well-liked, and committed to helping
his people. At the same time, he is bitterly disappointed that his
sports career did not reach a professional level. While he had a
lot of promise, his emotional outbursts and pattern of drug
abuse started to cause problems in high school. And, while he
went to college on a sports scholarship, he argued with coaches
and other players, eventually quitting college in his sophomore
year. John drinks to numb his anger and pain. Henry is an elder
in the tribe who notices John's distress and goes to talk with
him.
Video:Henry: John, you have done really good work helping our
people here on the reservation. So many look up to you as a role

3. model, especially the boys. You are kind to them and take time
to make them feel important. You are a valuable member of our
tribe. But John, I am wondering if there is something bothering
you.
John: Henry, thank you for your kind words. I am really OK.
I've been feeling a bit down about the lack of funds to help all
those who need it. The BIA in DC does not release the money
that has already been allocated to us. Those guys would rather
spend it on fancy offices and parties while our people starve.
Henry: I do not doubt it, and you've been effective in working
to improve these programs. But John, I am asking about how
you feel inside. You seem to be troubled. Is there anything I
could help with?
John: I do not know. I suppose it is kind of stupid, but I have
been feeling as though my life is already over. I did not achieve
the career that I wanted. I am back here on the rez and life will
be pretty much the same from here on. Of course I want to help,
but I do not see much ahead for myself. I can not even play
pickup games of basketball anymore because I am too out of
shape and get tired too easily. I am only 28! This should not be
happening so soon. As far at the job goes, we will be fighting
with the white government for all of our lives, and they will be
trying to break all of their treaty obligations just the way
they've always done. Our children will always be struggling and
our elderly without the care they need.
Henry: John, things are not so bad. They are getting better. Our
people have much more pride and there are many programs that
are helping. John, I want to speak to you bluntly. I am worried
about your drinking. It seems to be increasing, and you do not
look as healthy as you did a year ago.
John: Henry, I respect you as one of our elders and thank you
for your concern. But my drinking is my own business. It helps
me to get through the night, to be able to sleep, and to have a
little fun. It is not a problem.
Henry: John, your drinking is my business. I do not want to see
you suffering. You have got to find a different way to deal with

4. the destruction of our traditional culture. We are working
towards rebuilding and teaching our young to feel good about
themselves and our traditions. And alcohol plays no part in that.
You can be a leader of our people. You have had success with
the language program. Do not give up on these things. Believe
in yourself and our people.
LEVI
Levi is a 35-year-old man who is HIV positive. He works as an
auto mechanic. Since learning that he was HIV positive 10 years
ago, Levi has been on medications that have stopped the
progression to AIDS, and Levi is fairly healthy. However, the
emotional toll has been much more serious. Levi has withdrawn
from most social interactions. He has not told anyone in his
family, and has fallen away from most of his friends. He has
been able to obtain a variety of medications for anxiety, and
often takes more than the prescribed dosage. In addition, he has
had a cocaine habit that he views as his one area of excitement
in life. His pattern of use is on weekends, or sometimes as
a pick-me-up to get to work. He tends to use the anti-anxiety
medications in the evening to help him relax and sleep. He sees
his life slipping away in what has come to feel like an
increasingly empty lifestyle. He calls a counselor to talk about
his problems.
Video:
Dan, thanks for fitting me into your schedule. I have been
feeling more down for the past few months, and do not really
know how to deal with it. As for as being HIV positive, my
physical health is alright, but my mental health is not so good. I
spend most of my time by myself, except for work, and at work
I am essentially a cog in a machine. I actually enjoy work
because I almost lose a sense of time when I just concentrate on
fixing an engine. But when I leave work, life comes crashing in
on me. I do not have anyone special in my life. As you know, I
made a decision to be celibate after finding out I was HIV
positive. But I still have desire, not only for sex but, more
importantly, for love. I have tried all kinds of hobbies: hiking,

5. biking, camping, running, fishing, music, and even building
models. But in some ways all those things just feel like marking
time while my life goes by. I thought I was over it, but for the
past few months the thoughts have been keeping me awake
again, hours of regretting that I am positive, wishing that it
somehow magically had not happened, that I could have a
normal life. Then it all comes crashing back in on me. I can not
have a normal life. Having sex with someone is a potential
death sentence for them. I could not live with that, nor could I
even enjoy the sex.
I've been to see you off and on for the past 10 years, but I need
to tell you that I have not been honest with you about my drug
use. I use tranquilizers to get through the weekdays, and then
cocaine for a little excitement on the weekends. It is almost like
I have a relationship with the drugs. But it is not working for
me anymore. The cocaine just does not feel as good as it used
to, and I been feeling more anxious and jittery. There have a
few times recently that I was confused, even thinking that
people were outside the door who were going to hurt me when
there was no one there. Once I thought I heard them talking.
That just about shot my heart through the roof! I have felt weak
at times and I have been losing weight. I think that I might need
some serious help.
ROBERTA
Roberta is a 16-year-old African American, a high school
sophomore whose grades have recently been dropping after
having been a high achiever in elementary, junior high, and in
her freshmen year. An excellent athlete, Roberta abruptly quit
the swimming team last week. Her parents, teachers, and school
counselor are all at a loss to explain the changes. Roberta had a
serious injury to her leg this past October, and was treated with
muscle relaxants and pain medications. After a lot of inquiry
from the adults in her life, Roberta reports that she has
continued to use pain medications because they help her to feel
better, and that she is obtaining these through friends, spending
nearly all of the money she makes from her part-time job.

6. Video:
I just hate not being able to be involved in sports. It was my
life. I want to swim, but it hurts my leg too much. If I could get
more medications to help, I could be able to be on the team, but
the doctors make excuses for not renewing my perscriptions.
Those old fossils are upset because I have been getting meds
from my friends. Well, what am I supposed to do? Hello! If the
docs would give me the drugs I need to function, then I would
not have to go to my friends. You are a school counselor. Are
not you supposed to advocate for us? Can you help me to get
these prescriptions? If I could get through this pain, then I
would be able to swim again. I am sure that after a month or so
I would be back in good shape. The swimming season might be
over, but soccer will be starting soon, and I would be ready for
that. But without the medication, I just can not do the
conditioning exercise that I need. Do not you see how stupid it
is that they will not give me the meds? I know that you can help
me. You understand kids better than the doctors or my parents.
Will not you explain to them that they are holding me back? I
mean, I have got a good job, I am dependable. Yeah, my grades
have dropped some, but that is because I am in such pain all the
time. If they all want me to get my grades back up, then give me
the damn meds so that I will be able to concentrate.
STEVE
Steve is a freshman in college in a regional metropolitan center.
Steve is increasingly isolated in his dorm room and has been
missing a lot of classes. He grew up in a more rural setting, and
the urban center is somewhat intimidating to him. He is having
difficulty making friends. He has not yet chosen a major, but is
very interested in music and political science. He has begun
more experimentation with drugs and alcohol. While he feels
happier when he is high, his drug use has not yet had any real
negative consequences for him. Andy, the dorm student
counselor, notices Steve's distress and goes to talk with him
about his life.
Video:Andy: Hey Steve, what is going on man? You are kind of

7. isolating yourself in your dorm room here. How are you
feeling?
Steve: Oh, I have just been more tired lately. It is no big deal—
I am fine.
Andy: Steve, as an RA to look out for everyone here, and I am
worried about you. You have been getting pretty drunk and high
a lot, and you seem to be kind of sad. Could we just talk about
it some?
Steve: Well, you are right. I have been using a lot more than in
the past. Getting drunk or high is not good for me, I know, but
it helps to calm me down. I do not seem to fit in with any group
here. Back home I had friends and was busy all the time. Here I
just do not get it. I am nervous and others students do not seem
comfortable with me. When I try to talk to people, I do not
know what to say, and I feel sort of stupid.
Andy: Yeah, in a new climate everything kind of changes and
you have to get acclimated. But there are a lot of groups that
would welcome you here, Steve.
Steve: Maybe you could give me some help with that. Another
thing is that three weeks ago my parents told me that they are
getting a divorce. It is really bothering me. They have been
fighting for years, and maybe it is for the best, but I have a
younger sister and brother at home who are all broken up over it
and I am not there to help them. Dad has been leaving the house
a lot and is back to drinking. Mom is just depressed. It is
really hell for the younger kids. I do not know if I should even
be here. Maybe it would be better for me to leave school for a
while. What do you think?
TOMMY
Tommy, a 22-year-old, has just returned from a tour of duty in
Iraq. During his time there, he was nearly killed by a IED that
destroyed his vehicle and killed two others. Tommy was in the
hospital for a concussion after the accident, and was never able
to return to his unit. He is married and has a two-year-old
daughter. Since returning, Tommy has been going to bars during
the day and often drinking until passing out at home during the

8. evenings. His wife, Angie, is extremely alarmed, not only for
Tommy but for herself and their child, as Tommy gets very
angry at times. While Tommy refuses help, Angie has contacted
a veteran's organization about the situation.
Video:
I am only here because my wife and family think I should try
this. They are overreacting. I am just going through an
adjustment period and I will be fine. It is normal, do not you
think? I was over in that hell hole for a year, saw my buddies
killed and maimed, come back home where my wife and family
treat me like some sort of crazy person, and on top of that, no
one will offer this veteran a job. I go and sacrifice myself for
this country and then it treats me like a piece of crap. Of course
I am angry—it is normal. If I were not angry about it, then there
would be something wrong with me, right? I was in the hospital
for months recovering from the IED, but they took good care of
me and I am fine now. People want to put me down by accusing
me of being nuts, but they just use it as an excuse to control me.
I just need time by myself, and that is why I go to the bar. Some
of my friends are there. They are the only ones who
understand—some of them were over in Iraq too. I feel more
safe when I am with them. I do not get any pressure from them.
We can just sit and be quiet together. Sometimes the memories
of what happened just replay in my head over and over like a
movie. You might think it is bad, but the alcohol works for
stopping that horror film.
TONY
After a year in a half-way house, Tony has been released on a
three-year parole for a sentence involving distribution of
amphetamines. While in prison, and again in the half-way
house, Tony participated in chemical dependency programs.
Tony has neither the means nor the intention to use meth again,
but now that he is associating with some of his old friends, he
has been offered meth and he is having a hard time resisting the
temptation. He has gone to his counselor to ask for assistance.
Video:

9. Well, I came in to talk with you because I am really worried. I
am trying not to use, but it is getting really hard to resist. No
one will talk with me except for all my friends who are using.
My job sucks, I live in a rat-hole, and neither my wife nor my
kids will have anything to do with me. Life just seems hopeless.
Sometimes I think about ending it, but I do not really want to do
that. I am having so much trouble sleeping that I a zombie at
work, and I am making mistakes that might get me fired and
violate my parole for my job. I do not enjoy or look forward to
anything. It is hard to see my life getting any better. I am losing
weight. I do not have any energy. I get to thinking that if I
could just use a little, I would have the energy focus to do well,
and feel energized in my life. And at the same time I already
know that it is a fantasy, and that if I use again my life will go
down the toilet. I feel trapped. That is why I came to you. So,
what should I do?
ANDREA
Andrea is a 17-year-old Hispanic in the U.S. illegally. She
crossed the Mexican border with her mother last year. Mama is
finding sporadic work. At times Andrea has been able to work
with her mother. However, there are many days when Andrea is
left by herself in the rundown building where they live with
other illegals. Various drugs have been offered to Andrea.
Mama has on a couple of occasions returned to find Andrea
passed out on the couch next to a bottle of aerosol spray. Mama
doesn't know what to do to help Andrea. She has gone to the
local Migrant Council to ask for help.
Video:
Sometimes I like it here in the U.S., and at other times, no. We
never have enough money, and people are always asking my
mother for money. There is no water in our building, and most
of the time no electricity. There is nothing to do. We are afraid
to ask for help because of being illegal. We had so much hope
when we dreamed of coming here. But we had to pay everything
to the Coyotes to get across the border so we had nothing when
we got here. My mama tries her best. She cleans houses.

10. Sometimes I help her. But other days I am left here by myself,
with nothing to do and no money. So I talk with other people
here, and they are mostly out of work with no money too. I
started smoking pot with some of the other young people. Some
of them are mean, so I try to stay away. But I get so bored that I
have to find somebody to talk with. My friend Angela is good to
talk with, but she has bad drug habits. A couple of times I have
huffed with her, but I really do not like it that much and will
not do it anymore. Mama is so worried about me, and I think it
is ridiculous. It was her idea for me to come in here (to the
Migrant Council). I am really alright, if we just had a little
more money.
CREDITS
Subject Matter Expert:
Alan Ostby
Interactive Design:
Pat Lapinski, LaVonne Carlson, and Matthew Johnson
Instructional Designer:
Marisa Johnson
Project Manager:
Jay Her-Neish