Lodge Grass, Montana, a community within the Crow Indian Reservation, is undergoing revitalization efforts following the pervasive impact of methamphetamine use.
Individual Experiences and Community Impact
Lonny and Teyon Fritzler, residents of Lodge Grass, have discussed their personal experiences with methamphetamine addiction, which began in their youth and continued into adulthood. Both brothers have since achieved sobriety and are involved in community rebuilding initiatives. The Fritzler family property, like many others in Lodge Grass, exhibits signs of disrepair, with structures requiring extensive restoration. Lonny Fritzler noted the prevalence of dilapidated and uninhabitable homes in the area, a common issue within the community.
Scope of the Issue
A survey commissioned by Mountain Shadow Association, a local Native-led nonprofit, estimated that approximately 60% of Lodge Grass residents aged 14 and older contend with drug or alcohol addictions. This situation is reflected in the physical state of various properties within the town. Methamphetamine use is a public health concern across the U.S., with Native American communities experiencing the highest rates of addiction. Factors contributing to this disparity include the rural nature of many reservations, higher rates of poverty, chronic disease, and mental illness, alongside historical systemic discrimination and underfunding of the Indian Health Service.
Community Response and Development
In recent years, Lodge Grass has initiated community-led recovery efforts. Over two dozen abandoned buildings have been demolished. New commercial establishments have begun to emerge.
In October 2024, a new day care center, operated by the Mountain Shadow Association, was established, replacing a property that had tested positive for methamphetamine residue. The nonprofit is also developing "Kaala's Village," a campus designed to address addiction and facilitate family healing. This multi-phase project aims to provide mental health resources, housing for children while parents receive treatment, and separate housing for families engaged in recovery. Construction on the site's first building, a therapeutic foster home, is underway, with completion expected by spring 2026 for the foster home and the following year for family housing. Lonny and Teyon Fritzler are contributing to the construction of Kaala's Village and are undergoing training to provide mental health support.
Local Leadership and Ongoing Challenges
Mayor Quincy Dabney, also a volunteer at the Lodge Grass drop-in center, initiated community cleanup efforts in 2017. These efforts expanded to include the demolition of condemned houses, which had reportedly been utilized for drug-related activities. Despite these initiatives, drug trafficking remains a challenge; in 2024, a multistate operation based on the Crow reservation, distributing drugs to other Montana reservations, was disrupted by officials. Dabney pointed to ongoing property remediation and the preparation of a local residence for a new mental health worker as indicators of ongoing change.
Funding and Future Outlook
Kaala's Village has an estimated cost of $5 million. The Mountain Shadow Association is proceeding with construction in phases, contingent on funding acquisition. The initiative highlights the increasing emphasis on grassroots efforts in response to potential variability in federal program support and increased competition for philanthropic funding. The Fritzler brothers also expressed intentions to restore their childhood home.