Native American communities have been disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic, facing higher rates of addiction, overdose deaths, and other related issues compared to the general population. Tribal opioid response strategies may include a combination of prevention, treatment, and recovery programs tailored to the specific cultural, social, and economic contexts of each tribe. These efforts often involve collaboration with tribal governments, health services, community organizations, and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive approaches to address opioid misuse and its consequences.
Tribal Opioid Response Resources
Websites
National American Indian & Alaska Native PTTC
The National American Indian & Alaska Native Prevention Technology Transfer Center (NAIAN-PTTC) aims to provide training and technical assistance services to the substance abuse prevention field including professionals, para-professionals, organizations and others in the prevention community focused on American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.
National American Indian and Alaska Native ATTC
The National American Indian and Alaska Native ATTC is a National Center that provides education and training opportunities for individuals and groups involved in providing substance abuse treatment and counseling, including health professionals in primary prevention and treatment for substance abuse. The National American Indian and Alaska Native ATTC is housed in the University of Iowa College of Public Health, but offer services nationwide for consulting, technical assistance, and continuing education seminars. The National American Indian and Alaska Native ATTC focused specifically on the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI & AN) communities.
Tools & Resources
Healing Tool: Guide for addressing behavioral health goals in Native communities
This resource is designed to provide important talking points to use when meeting with or talking to tribal leaders, elders, community members, multi-disciplinary task force members, or local county workers about substance use disorders (SUD), medication assisted treatment (MAT), and other behavioral health issues.
Tribal Opioid Response Resource Toolkit
There has been a lot of attention and funding provided to the national opioid epidemic within recent years, especially the devastating impact it can have in Tribal communities. The collective intent of these funding opportunities is to reduce opioid related deaths in Tribal communities by implementing activities such as strategic plans, prevention and education medication assisted therapy, different forms of treatment, workforce development activities, community recovery support, and so forth. This Tribal Opioid Response Resource Toolkit provides an array of materials, tools, resources and links to support Tribes as they are working to combat the epidemic within their communities.
SPARK Resource Center
The SAMHSA Program to Advance Recovery Knowledge (SPARK) supports transformational, recovery-oriented change for every state, tribal, and territorial behavioral health system and promotes equitable access to recovery supports in the United States. This resource center includes current information focused on equitable recovery supports including recovery-oriented care, recovery supports and services, and recovery-oriented systems for people with mental health/substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. If you have questions about these resources or suggestions for recovery resources to be added, please email the SPARK team.
Native Harm Reduction Toolkit
This toolkit was imagined and created by Arlene Brown, member of the Bishop Paiute Tribe, with support from NHRC staff, including Jessica Smith. It has been informed by Tribal and Urban Native people from across California and brings together resources from Indigenous harm reduction leaders from across the country and beyond.
Publications
SAMHSA Report: Substance Use and Mental Health Issues among US-Born American Indians or Alaska Natives Residing on and off Tribal Lands
About 22 percent of American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) reside on reservations or other trust lands, which contain unique governments, histories, traditions,
communities, languages, and behavioral health challenges. In general, there is a lack of nationally representative data on the substance use and mental health of AI/ANs residing on and off tribal lands. This report provides methodological information on how to obtain estimates of behavioral health outcomes for populations living on and off tribal lands and provides some initial estimates.
Posters & Infographics
Community Outreach Posters for your Behavioral Health Program
This series of posters, developed by the National American Indian and Alaska Native ATTC, is designed to help you promote awareness of your programs and services in your community! They can be customized by adding your logo, information, and adding a translation of the message in your own language.
View the Resource
The Opioid Crisis: Impact on Native American Communities
This factsheet from the ATTC Network details the the impact of the opioid crisis on Native American communities.
Download the Factsheet
Webinars & Online Learning
Current News & Research
Tribal leaders ask Congress for help with fentanyl crisis in Native American communities
Figueroa, A. (2023, November 8). Tribal leaders ask Congress for help with fentanyl crisis in Native American communities. Oregon Capital Chronicle. https://www.oregoncapitalchronicle.com/tribal-leaders-ask-congress-for-help-with-fentanyl-crisis-in-native-american-communities/
‘To Walk in the Beauty Way’: Treating Opioid Use Disorder in Native Communities
Research explores the integration of medication-based treatment with the healing traditions of American Indian and Alaska Native communities.