Strengthening Indigenous informed and collaborative systems of care: Provider perspectives of the impact of COVID-19 on substance use disorder treatment services among American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the drug poisoning crisis in American Indian/Alaska Native communities, in combination with ongoing substance use disorder (SUD) treatment barriers resulting from settler-colonialism, systemic oppression and racial discrimination. For similar reasons, AI/AN adults also experienced increased risk of COVID-19 related serious illness and death. In collaboration with an AI/AN Collaborative Board and Tribal leadership and administration, this study, supported by CTN-0118, explored AI/AN SUD treatment providers’ perception of client-relatives’ (i.e., SUD treatment recipients) experiences (e.g. substance use) during the height of the pandemic (2020-2022).

Related protocols: CTN-0118