Integrating traditional practices and social network visualization to prevent substance use: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial among urban Native American emerging adults

• Published in: Addiction science & clinical practice Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 56 - 18
• Main Authors: D'Amico, Elizabeth J, Dickerson, Daniel L, Rodriguez, Anthony, Brown, Ryan A, Kennedy, David P, Palimaru, Alina I, Johnson, Carrie, Smart, Rosanna, Klein, David J, Parker, Jennifer, McDonald, Keisha, Woodward, Michael J, Gudgell, Ninna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 26.09.2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Alaska; Alaska Natives; Alcohol and marijuana/cannabis use; Alcohol use; American Indian or Alaska Native; American Indians; California; Clinical trials; Cultural sensitivity; Drug abuse; Drugs; Epidemics; Evidence-based medicine; Focus groups; Health aspects; Health problems; Heroin; Humans; Indigenous peoples; Intervention; Marijuana; Medical diagnosis; Mortality; Motivational interviewing; Narcotics; Native Americans; Opioid use; Opioid-Related Disorders - prevention & control; Opioids; Overdose; Prevention programs; Psychological development; Public health; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Resilience; Rural areas; Social Networking; Social networks; Social support; Study Protocol; Substance abuse; Traditional practices; Traditions; United States - epidemiology; Urban Population; Visualization; Workshops; Young Adult; United States; Alaska; California; United States > US; Motivational interviewing; Traditional practices; Social networks; Alcohol and marijuana/cannabis use; Native Americans; Opioid use
• ISSN: 1940-0640; 1940-0632; 1940-0640
• DOI: 10.1186/s13722-021-00265-3

Nonmedical use of prescription opioids (defined as taking opioid medications for hedonic effects or in a manner other than prescribed) and the use of heroin have emerged in recent years as major public health concerns in the United States. Of particular concern is the prevalence of opioid use among emerging adults (ages 18-25), as this is a developmental period of heightened vulnerability and critical social, neurological, and psychological development. Data from 2015 show that American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people have the highest rates of diagnosis for opioid use disorders (OUDs). One recent study found that the overdose death rate among urban-dwelling AI/AN individuals was 1.4 times higher compared to those living in rural areas. To date, there are no evidence-based prevention programs addressing opioid use among urban AI/AN emerging adults that integrate culturally-appropriate strategies with evidence-based treatment. Traditions and Connections for Urban Native Americans (TACUNA) builds on our prior work with AI/AN communities across California to develop and evaluate culturally appropriate programming to address opioid, alcohol, and cannabis use among urban AI/AN emerging adults. In a randomized controlled trial, 18-25 year old urban AI/AN emerging adults will receive either TACUNA (n = 185), which comprises three virtual workshops utilizing motivational interviewing, social network visualization, and integrating traditional practices and a wellness circle, or one virtual culturally sensitive opioid education workshop (n = 185). We will evaluate intervention effects on primary outcomes of frequency of opioid, alcohol, and cannabis use, as well as secondary outcomes of social network characteristics and cultural connectedness, over a 12-month period. This project has the potential to expand the range and effectiveness of opioid, alcohol, and cannabis services for urban AI/AN emerging adults by addressing the opioid epidemic and use of other substances at both the community and individual level. In addition, it provides important culturally grounded conceptual and practical information to advance the field of substance use interventions and enhance resiliency among this population. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04617938. Registered October 26, 2020 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT04617938 .