Wiidookaage’Win: A community-based qualitative approach to developing a Facebook group intervention for Native women to support recovery from opioid use.

The purpose of this study, NIDA Clinical Trials Network protocol CTN-0123 was to develop a culturally-tailored American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women’s Facebook group supporting opioid recovery as an adjunct to medication. Participants were AI/AN women in Minnesota in opioid recovery, interested parties, and a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) of AI/AN women with lived experience, health care providers, and community members.

For the intervention, the study team developed evidence-based content focusing on stress/trauma and substance use, mindfulness, responding to triggers, and supportive community resources. Additional content centered on AI/AN culture was also selected.

Interviews were conducted by two women, then transcribed and coded using content analysis with NVivo software. Results were presented to CAC for further content refinement.

CAC members (n = 10) guided study methods, intervention development, and dissemination activities. 14 AI/AN women (mean age 36.4 years; mean 6.7 months opioid abstinence) and 12 interested parties (7 men, 5 women) were receptive to an AI/AN gender-specific Facebook group, preferring content with AI/AN people and/or text resonating with AI/AN culture (e.g., Native traditions, family, personal stories, historical trauma). Recommendations included (1) protect confidentiality, (2) retain positivity, (3) incorporate resources and exercises to build coping skills, and (4) moderators should be authentic and relatable to build trust.

Conclusions: This approach provides a model for developing culturally tailored, appealing and effective social media interventions to support AI/AN women in recovery from opioid use disorder.

Related protocols: CTN-0123