SUD Program Implementation Considerations for Tribal Populations

Tribal communities report high rates of substance use disorders (SUD) and barriers to treatment persist. These include limited resources, stigma, fear of arrest, and inadequate availability of naloxone or trained individuals to administer it. There is also insufficient education about responding to overdoses. Additionally, documentation of opioid use disorder and overdose cases in tribal communities is often incomplete. This includes gaps in medical records, emergency response reports, and broader data collection efforts. When neighboring communities provide emergency medical services but do not record tribal status in their reports, it limits tribes' ability to track overdose incidents, assess the effectiveness of SUD treatment programs, and secure funding for necessary resources.

Engaging tribal communities in SUD prevention and treatment services requires strategies that maintain tribal values at the forefront. This includes involving tribal individuals in program implementation. For example, one rural SUD treatment program hired a project coordinator with established relationships in partner tribes. Tailored social marketing campaigns specific to a tribe's cultural context have also been effective. Programs addressing tobacco should recognize its traditional, medicinal, and sacred significance in some tribal communities.

Community-based surveillance, treatment, and prevention approaches have shown promise in addressing SUD and overdose prevention. By integrating tailored strategies, addressing resource gaps, and recognizing the impact of trauma, programs can better meet the unique needs of tribal communities and improve SUD outcomes.

Resources to Learn More

Alcohol and Substance Abuse Branch
Website
Provides screening tools, trainings, treatment options, and technical assistance for addressing substance use among tribal populations.
Organization(s): Indian Health Service

Native Communities: Alcohol Intervention Review (NativeAIR)
Website
Offers research and information for tribal and community leaders, educators, and health professionals to reduce the impacts of alcohol on communities.
Organization(s): National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism