NPAIHB Methamphetamine Initiative
The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, is collaborating with the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Public Health - Office of Minority Health, on a project to reduce American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) health disparities. The emphasis of this collaboration will be reducing methamphetamine use and the related effects.
This collaboration will address the following objectives:
- Increase knowledge and understanding of health conditions, and methamphetamine use and other health risk factors disproportionately affecting AI/ANs. Data will be gathered from every accessible source to define objective data elements, barriers, and availability of services, referrals, and prevalence of use.
- Develop strategies to improve service delivery and access to quality and culturally competent health services, public safety programs, and other local community driven services. There will be a repository of information developed for access electronically and/or by hard copy. There will also be a coordination of information from other Collaborators from this Initiative.
- Develop the infrastructure capacity to conduct formative research, evaluations, and testing of new and innovative health care service delivery and health promotion models and interventions for AI/ANs.
Need:
The issues around methamphetamine continues to escalate. The actual scope of the effects of methamphetamine remains an unknown for most tribal communities. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health Report (Sept. 24, 2004) notes increased rates of substance use among AI/ANs compared with persons from other racial/ethnic groups. Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration’s (SAMHSA) Treatment Episode Data Set, moreover, indicates a substantial increase of admissions for methamphetamine treatment (SAMHSA, TEDS 1999). Further, none of the National Institutes for Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Networks have addressed treatment for methamphetamine dependence. Data on the prevalence of methamphetamine use and abuse among AI/ANs is limited and needs to be improved to develop comprehensive, effective programs.
Visit the Access to American Indian Recovery (AAIR) Project page for information on substance abuse assistance!
