CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 210Indigenous Health, Education, and RightsSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesReligion, Spirituality, and Psychology

Cultural interventions to treat addictions in Indigenous populations: findings from a scoping study

Open access
Rowan, Margo, Poole, Nancy, Shea, Beverley, Gone, Joseph P, Mykota, David, Farag, Marwa, Hopkins, Carol, Hall, Laura +2 more·2014·Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
DOI 10.1186/1747-597x-9-34PMC PMC4158387
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cultural interventions offer the hope and promise of healing from addictions for Indigenous people.a However, there are few published studies specifically examining the type and impact of these interventions. Positioned within the Honouring Our Strengths: Culture as Intervention project, a scoping study was conducted to describe what is known about the characteristics of culture-based programs and to examine the outcomes collected and effects of these interventions on wellness. METHODS: This review followed established methods for scoping studies, including a final stage of consultation with stakeholders. The data search and extraction were also guided by the "PICO" (Patient/population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome) method, for which we defined each element, but did not require direct comparisons between treatment and control groups. Twelve databases from the scientific literature and 13 databases from the grey literature were searched up to October 26, 2012. RESULTS: The search strategy yielded 4,518 articles. Nineteen studies were included from the United States (58%) and Canada (42%), that involved residential programs (58%), and all (100%) integrated Western and culture-based treatment services. Seventeen types of cultural interventions were found, with sweat lodge ceremonies the most commonly (68%) enacted. Study samples ranged from 11 to 2,685 clients. Just over half of studies involved quasi-experimental designs (53%). Most articles (90%) measured physical wellness, with fewer (37%) examining spiritual health. Results show benefits in all areas of wellness, particularly by reducing or eliminating substance use problems in 74% of studies. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from this scoping study suggests that the culture-based interventions used in addictions treatment for Indigenous people are beneficial to help improve client functioning in all areas of wellness. There is a need for well-designed studies to address the question of best relational or contextual fit of cultural practices given a particular place, time, and population group. Addiction researchers and treatment providers are encouraged to work together to make further inroads into expanding the study of culture-based interventions from multiple perspectives and locations.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1186/1747-597x-9-34

Cites

5 of 5 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Focusing on a cultural activity (talking circle) with a common function of providing a space for group support increases the likelihood of generalizability to other nations.

    “Through focusing on a cultural activity (i.e., talking circle) with a common function of providing a space for group support, this health intervention increases the likelihood of generalizability to other nations (Rowan, 2014) while beginning at the ground level.”

    From Growing from Our Roots: Strategies for Developing Culturally Grounded Health Promotion Interventions in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Communities (2020) · cites this paper as Rowan, 2014

    The Discussion proposes comparing cultural interventions by common functions as a possible way to address problems of generalization. The Results list a talking circle alongside peer support, but the paper does not show that focusing this particular health intervention on a talking circle increases its generalizability to other nations. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • One solution is to compare cultural interventions based on their common functions or purpose they serve versus on their distinctive forms.

    “as Rowan (2014) notes, one solution is to compare cultural interventions based on their common functions or purpose they serve, (e.g., purification or increasing spiritual connection) versus on their distinctive forms (e.g., sweat lodge, dance).”

    From Growing from Our Roots: Strategies for Developing Culturally Grounded Health Promotion Interventions in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Communities (2020) · cites this paper as Rowan (2014)

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 39

  1. Schiff JW Moore K The impact of the sweat lodge ceremony on dimensions of well-being Am Indian Alsk Native Ment Health Res 2006 13 48 69 17602408
  2. Stone RAT Whitbeck LB Chen X Johnson K Olson DM Traditional practices, traditional spirituality, and alcohol cessation among American Indians J Stud Alcohol 2006 67 236 244 16562405
  3. Walls ML Johnson KD Whitbeck LB Hoyt DR Mental health and substance abuse services preferences among American Indian people of the northern Midwest Community Ment Health J 2006 42 521 535 17143732 PMC1705498
  4. Dell CA Seguin M Hopkins C Tempier R Mehl-Madrona L Dell D Duncan R Mosier K From benzos to berries: treatment offered at an Aboriginal youth solvent abuse treatment centre relays the importance of culture Can J Psychiatry 2011 56 75 83 21333034
  5. Szlemko WJ Wood JW Thurman PJ Native Americans and alcohol: past, present, and future J Gen Psychol 2006 133 435 451 17128961
  6. Hawkins EH Cummins LH Marlatt GA Preventing substance abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native youth: promising strategies for healthier communities Psychol Bull 2004 130 304 323 14979774
  7. Foxcroft D Ireland D Lowe G Breen R Primary prevention of alcohol misuse in young people Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002 3 CD003024 12137668
  8. Carson KV Brinn MP Labiszewski NA Peters M Chang AB Veale A Esterman AJ Smith BJ Interventions for tobacco use prevention in Indigenous youth Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012 8 CD009325 22895988 PMC6486186
  9. Ringwalt C Bliss K The cultural tailoring of a substance use prevention curriculum for American Indian youth J Drug Educ 2006 36 159 177 17153515
  10. Beach MC Gary TL Price EG Robinson K Gozu A Palacio A Smarth C Jenckes M Feuerstein C Bass EB Powe NR Cooper LA Improving health care quality for racial/ethnic minorities: a systematic review of the best evidence regarding provider and organization interventions BMC Public Health 2006 6 104 114 16635262 PMC1525173
  11. Gates S McCambridge J Smith LA Foxcroft D Interventions for prevention of drug use by young people delivered in non-school settings Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006 1 CD005030 16437511 PMC13222737
  12. Edwards C Giroux D Okamoto SK A review of the literature on Native Hawaiian youth and drug use: implications for research and practice J Ethn Subst Abuse 2010 9 153 172 20737343 PMC2929928
  13. Szapocznik J Lopez B Prado G Schwartz SJ Pantin H Outpatient drug abuse treatment for Hispanic adolescents Drug Alcohol Depend 2006 84 Suppl 1 S54 S63 16765535
  14. Webb MS Treating tobacco dependence among African Americans: a meta-analytic review Health Psychol 2008 27 Suppl 3 S271 S282 18979980
  15. MacLean SJ d'Abbs PH Petrol sniffing in Aboriginal communities: a review of interventions Drug Alcohol Rev 2002 21 65 72 12189006
  16. Ivers RG A review of tobacco interventions for Indigenous Australians Aust N Z J Public Health 2003 27 294 299 14705285
  17. Taylor K Thompson S Davis R Delivering culturally appropriate residential rehabilitation for urban Indigenous Australians: a review of the challenges and opportunities Aust N Z J Public Health 2010 34 Suppl 1 S36 S40 20618291
  18. Clifford A Pulver LJ Richmond R Shakeshaft A Ivers R Smoking, nutrition, alcohol and physical activity interventions targeting Indigenous Australians: rigorous evaluations and new directions needed Aust N Z J Public Health 2011 35 38 46 21299699
  19. Bryant J Bonevski B Paul C McElduff P Attia J A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of behavioural smoking cessation interventions in selected disadvantaged groups Addiction 2011 106 1568 1585 21489007
  20. Lu L Liu Y Zhu W Shi J Liu Y Ling W Kosten TR Traditional medicine in the treatment of drug addiction Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2009 35 1 11 19152199
  21. Gone JP Alcántara C Identifying effective mental health interventions for American Indians and Alaska Natives: a review of the literature Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol 2007 13 356 363 17967104
  22. Brady M Culture in treatment, culture as treatment. A critical appraisal of developments in addictions programs for Indigenous North Americans and Australians Soc Sci Med 1995 41 1487 1498 8607039
  23. Greenfield BL Venner KL Review of substance use disorder treatment research in Indian country: future directions to strive toward health equity Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2012 38 483 492 22931083
  24. Levac D Colquhoun H O’Brien KK Scoping studies: advancing the methodology Implement Sci 2010 5 59 67 20854677 PMC2954944
  25. Boyd-Ball AJ A culturally responsive, family-enhanced intervention model Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2003 27 1356 1360 12966339
  26. Boyd-Ball AJ Dishion TJ Myers MW Light J Predicting American Indian adolescent substance use trajectories following inpatient treatment J Ethn Subst Abuse 2011 10 181 201 21888498 PMC4752201
  27. Dell D Hopkins C Residential volatile substance misuse treatment for Indigenous youth in Canada Subst Use Misuse 2011 46 107 113 21609154
  28. Edwards Y Cultural connection and transformation: substance abuse treatment at Friendship House J Psychoactive Drugs 2003 35 53 58 12733758
  29. Gossage JP Barton L Foster L Etsitty L LoneTree C Leonard C May PA Sweat lodge ceremonies for jail-based treatment J Psychoactive Drugs 2003 35 33 42 12733756
  30. D’Silva J Schillo BA Sandman NR Leonard TL Boyle RG Evaluation of a tailored approach for tobacco dependence treatment for American Indians Am J Health Promot 2011 25 Suppl5 S66 S69 21510789
  31. Lowe J Liang H Riggs C Henson J Community partnership to affect substance abuse among Native American adolescents Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2012 38 450 455 22931079 PMC3604899
  32. Nebelkopf E Penagos M Holistic Native Network: integrated HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and mental health services for Native Americans in San Francisco J Psychoactive Drugs 2005 37 257 264 16295008
  33. Nebelkopf E Wright S Holistic system of care: a ten-year perspective J Psychoactive Drugs 2011 43 302 308 22400461
  34. Saylors K The women's circle comes full circle J Psychoactive Drugs 2003 35 59 62 12733759
  35. Wright S Nebelkopf E King J Maas M Patel C Samuel S Holistic system of care: evidence of effectiveness Subst Use Misuse 2011 46 1420 1430 21810076
  36. Hawe P Shiell A Riley T Theorising interventions as events in systems Am J Community Psychol 2009 43 267 276 19390961
  37. Brady MJ Peterman AH Fitchett G Mo M Cella D A case for including spirituality in quality of life measurement in oncology Psychooncology 1999 8 417 428 10559801
  38. Daaleman TP Frey BB Wallace D Studenski SA The spirituality index of well-being: development and testing of a new measure J Fam Pract 2002 51 952 959 12485549
  39. Gone JP Calf Looking PE American Indian culture as substance abuse treatment: pursuing evidence for a local intervention J Psychoactive Drugs 2011 43 291 296 22400459

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Rowan, M., Poole, N., Shea, B., Gone, J. P., Mykota, D., Farag, M., Hopkins, C., Hall, L., Mushquash, C., & Dell, C.
Affiliations
  • University of Saskatchewan (CA)
  • British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health (CA)
  • Bruyère (CA)
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • Lakehead University (CA)
Corresponding author
Dell, Colleen
ORCID
Venue
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2014-09-01
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
34-34
ISSN
1747-597X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/1747-597x-9-34
PMC
PMC4158387
OpenAlex
W2148328372
Cited by
210
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 1
FWCI
1.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • uO Research (University of Ottawa) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
  • Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • University of Ottawa
  • Lakehead University
  • Thompson Rivers University
  • Health Canada
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (120535_1, 12053_5)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Keywords
cultural intervention, indigenous peoples, addiction treatment, substance use disorders, residential treatment, wellness, spiritual health, physical well-being
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Culture, Female, Humans, Male, Substance-Related Disorders, Population Groups, Young Adult

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review