Cultural considerations: historical link to SUD’s
Research has established a link between historical trauma and substance abuse in the AI/AN population. Historical trauma is a unique type of grief that extends across generations from experiences of colonization, displacement, and racism. These past and ongoing traumas continue to affect the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples. The AI/AN population is 2x more likely to be diagnosed with an SUD compared to the general population.
Indigenous communities also struggle with health disparities for treating SUDS:
- Difficulty accessing treatment in local communities
- Underrepresentation in treatment trials
In response to these challenges, many Indigenous communities are working to establish local treatment facilities that provide trauma-informed care. Communities also recognize the importance of preventing substance use among children and teens. In fact, the rate of abstinence from alcohol and other substances is much higher among Native Americans (~60%) than the general population (~43%). The wisdom elders provide to their communities is vitally important to these efforts.