A survey of drug use by Ute Tribe school students was conducted in 2002.  (Drug and Alcohol Use AmongUte Tribe School Students, Ft. Duchesne, Utah Tri-Ethnic Center for Prevention Research, Colorado State University).  The survey results showed that there are a significant number of young Ute Tribe people who are at risk from their use of drugs.  While problems in school are not directly related to drug and alcohol use, students with abuse problems do have a high percentage of school adjustment problems.  The report suggested that if the Tribe can find ways to improve school adjustment it might keep them from forming peer clusters that share their school problems and might reduce the chances that they will get involved with drugs.

Education Background: The closing of the Whiterocks Boarding School in 1951 marked the end of the boarding school era on the reservation.  The action to close the Uintah Boarding School was made by Ute tribal leaders who worked cooperatively with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to execute a major shift in the Federal Government’s policy from one of assuming responsibility for the education of Indian people to one of integrating Indian students into the American School System and most Ute students now attend local public schools. 

In 1947, the U.S. Congress appropriated the sum of $250,000 for the construction of the Union High School, Roosevelt, Utah on behalf of the Ute Indian students.  The Uintah and Duchesne County School Districts jointly participated in the construction of the school by appropriating $250,000 respectively.  Thus, the name “Union High School” was established to represent the union of the three entities (Duchesne County, Uintah County , and the Ute Indian Tribe) in the establishment of the school.  The school was constructed in 1950.  It was jointly operated under a joint school board, up until 1970 when the school was placed under the complete supervision of the Duchesne County School District .  This high school continues to serve Ute Indian students up to the present time.

The Federal Impact Aid Laws of 1953 were amended to provide financial aid to public school districts located near non-taxable Indian lands.  Both the Uintah and Duchesne County School Districts began receiving these funds on behalf of Ute Indian children. 

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