Cherokee Nation Breaks Ground On New Drug Treatment Center

The Cherokee Nation broke ground on a new facility in Tahlequah that will help Cherokee citizens with addictions. Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr said this is just the first step of bringing justice and healing to the tribe.

Dozens of people gathered in Tahlequah, anticipating a new future for the Cherokee Nation.

“Today is that first day where we put aside that stigma of substance use disorder and other things that plague an individual, other things that plague a family, a community, a nation,” said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. 

Tribal leaders and healthcare professionals broke ground on an adult drug treatment center for the Cherokee Nation.

“This is a wonderful day in the Cherokee Nation. We're here today to celebrate justice and healing, and we're going to break ground on a facility that is a symbol of justice, and which will help bring about healing,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. 

The first phase of the facility is a 19,000-square-foot residential healthcare center. The Cherokee Nation said the Public Health and Wellness Fund Act was amended last year, so the money from the opioid settlement would pay for projects like this one.

“Passage of that law means that we are building a drug-treatment center by Cherokees, for Cherokees and we're making the opioid industry pay for every single penny of it,” said Principal Chief Hoskin. 

With the turn of the dirt, tribal leaders said this was just one step closer to changing lives in the Cherokee Nation, “today my friends, let's break ground and let's celebrate justice and healing. Thank you all very much,” Principal Chief Hoskin said.

Along with the groundbreaking, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Hoskin named Aug. 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day in the Cherokee Nation.