Emery Tahy of San Francisco knows firsthand the struggles of addiction and recovery — a journey that, for him, is intertwined with his experience as a Native American.
In his twenties, Tahy landed on the streets of Phoenix battling severe depression and alcohol-induced seizures. About four years ago, Tahy said, he was on the brink of suicide when his siblings intervened and petitioned for court-ordered treatment.
While Tahy was detoxing in a psychiatric ward, he learned about the Friendship House, a Native-led recovery treatment program in San Francisco. As soon as he was released from the Arizona hospital, he headed to California.
“I knew immediately that I was in the right place,” said Tahy, 43. “A traditional practitioner did prayers for me. They shared some songs with me. They put me in the sweat lodge and I could identify with those ceremonies. And from that day moving forward, I was able to reconnect to my spiritual and cultural upbringing.”
TVNL Comment: What a wonderful move by Medicaid. It's time to have something in America to be proud of.
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