Review of American Indian Alcohol & Drug Treatment Articles

Review of American Indian Alcohol & Drug Treatment Articles

Annotated Bibliography

Shayna M. La Scala

California State University Fullerton

Review of American Indian Alcohol & Drug Treatment Articles
Review of American Indian Alcohol & Drug Treatment Articles

Statement of Purpose: This annotated bibliography seeks to compile articles related to

American Indian substance abuse and current treatment options.

Dickerson, D. L., Brown, R. A., Johnson, C. L., Schweigman, K., & DAmico, E. J.

(2016). Integrating motivational interviewing and traditional practices to address

alcohol and drug use among urban American Indian/Alaska Native youth. Journal

of substance abuse treatment, 65, 26-35.

This article was written to describe the challenges that American Indian /American

Native(AI/AN) youth face. A recurring theme in this article is that the AI/AN adolescents

are the most at risk racial ethnic group to substance abuse. This population requires

culturally specific AOD prevention and treatment. The authors developed MICUNAY-

Motivational interviewing and culture for urban native American youth, a program

utilizing motivational interviewing, integrated with traditional AI/AN customs. This article

is relevant to our review research as innovative treatment stimulating further

investigation of Evidenced Based Treatment.

Kropp, F. , Somoza, E. , Lilleskov, M. , Moccasin, M. , Moore, M. , et al. (2013).

Characteristics of northern plains American Indians seeking substance abuse

Review of American Indian Alcohol & Drug Treatment Articles

treatment in an urban, non-tribal clinic: A descriptive study. Community

Mental Health Journal, 49(6), 714-721.

Authors research factors of 11 American Indian tribes afflicted with substance abuse

disorder in an urban non-Native substance abuse treatment setting. Study results

yielded American Indian client usage of Marijuana and alcohol began at earlier ages

and often followed higher usage of stimulants and prescription opioids. Results further

included regular smoking of Tobacco. Victimization, gender, cognitive impairment and

suicidal behavior were all correlated to the age of onset. Elements of Native culture

were found to aid in recovery despite the impoverished settings of these individuals.

Data representing psychosocial factors of substance abuse in the community can

benefit our review as supporting evidence.

Novins, D. , Croy, C. , Moore, L. , & Rieckmann, T. (2016). Use of evidence-based

treatments in substance abuse treatment programs serving american indian and

alaska native communities. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 161, 214-221.

Evidence Based Treatment(EBT) in tribal programs is limited due to cultural insensitivity

creating AI/AN negative attitude of usage of EBTs, finding that 96% of programs

implemented a psychosocial treatment and 54% implemented medication assisted

treatment. There was greater EBT client engagement when linked with program

characteristics like funding and staff attributions like educational attainment. Currently
Review of American Indian Alcohol & Drug Treatment Articles

substance abuse counselors need certification as opposed to further higher education.

Data was collected through a survey at 192 programs, including questions pertaining to

psychosocial, medication assisted EBTs, and attitudes towards those EBTs. Given the

controversy that has surrounded efforts to increase the use of EBTs in substance abuse

treatment programs serving AI/AN communities (Gone and Looking, 2011 ; Novins et

al., 2011), the fact that the use of at least one psychosocial EBT was almost universal in

these programs is an unexpected finding.

Rieckmann, T. , Moore, L. , Croy, C. , Novins, D. , & Aarons, G. (2016). A national study

of american indian and alaska native substance abuse treatment: Provider and

program characteristics. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 68, 46-56.

AI accessibility to treatment for substance use disorder, among other mental health

issues, is a challenge. Researchers conducted the first national survey to better

understand facility differences in urban and rural communities. Rural programs were

found to have less nurses and more traditional healing consultants or ceremonial

providers. Outside evaluators were rarely consulted and did not use strategic planning.

Urban facility clinical staff used more Evidence Based Treatment (EBT) Often, Program

Directors searched for alternative practice to a single EBT to integrate better practice.

This article aimed to provide health workers in substance abuse treatment a better

understanding of quality of care over time, on a larger scale, in a multitude of ways.

Review of American Indian Alcohol & Drug Treatment Articles