After 30 days of in-patient treatment, he started to think the same things over and over.

Finish treatment. Please the court. Go back to doing whatever he wanted.

Franklin Oldman, 29, was a month into a substance abuse program when he wanted to leave. He was court-ordered to attend a 12-week program after being charged with a DUI in December 2007.

"To me, I didn't feel like I was getting enough out of the 12-week program," he said.

Then Oldman, a Northern Arapaho, heard about the Matrix, an outpatient treatment program at the White Buffalo Recovery Center. Enrolling in the program meant he could work on his substance abuse from home.

"I said, well, I'll just put myself in there," Oldman said.

The Matrix was the focus of a session on American Indian substance abuse treatment at the Wyoming Statewide Methamphetamine and Substance Abuse Conference in Casper on Wednesday.

Patients learn to identify triggers for substance abuse, why they use and how to work through relapses. Family members are involved in every aspect of a patient's treatment.

The family piece is what makes the program work for those at White Buffalo, said Clarence Thomas, a substance abuse counselor and methamphetamine prevention coordinator for the center.

Many American Indians start using drugs or alcohol as a way to self-medicate because of a traumatic event, Thomas said. Before long, they're addicted and have forgotten why they started using in the first place.

"Each tribe, each Indigenous nation in the U.S., has been through this traumatic history," Thomas said. "That brings a generational issue of anger and hate and depression that goes a long way.

When the whole family learns to deal with trauma and addiction, patients see more success in abstaining from drugs or alcohol, Thomas said.

Those enrolled in the Matrix also take part in Northern Arapaho cultural activities and learn about tribal history. Eugene Ridgely, a tribal liaison for White Buffalo, said an example of a culturally-based activity is the healing circle. Patients burn cedar and sweetgrass, talk about their recovery and pray.

"Our clients get so involved in this healing circle, they requested to do it once a week," Ridgely said. "They leave there with a good feeling within their hearts."

Oldman is in the final stages of the Matrix and will finish treatment in April. It's helped him to understand why he drinks and to deal with the resentment he's held for his father, who was also an alcoholic.

"At first, I just thought I was a happy go-lucky alcoholic, a functioning alcoholic," Oldman said. "I just kept making these excuses. I didn't know this was riding on my shoulders all along."

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.