Pilot Study: An Exploration of Medication Assisted-Treatment (MAT) for Indigenous Americans Within Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts

Abstract

Considering the opioid epidemic's adverse and disproportionate consequences on Indigenous American communities across the nation, United States federal agencies (i.e., Indian Health Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy) and Tribal nations are urgently calling for more substance use treatment and prevention efforts.Problem-solving courts (PSCs) are a well-known innovation for treating individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) and those who have committed nonviolent offenses.However, very little is known about these courts in indigenous communities and how they address substance use disorders.Drawing on a small sample of court coordinators (n=5), this pilot study contributes unique insights into emerging literature on Indigenous American communities and their use of Tribal Healing to Wellness courts to provide substance treatment services using culturally responsive practices.In addition, the findings inform future research directions aimed at understanding the nuances of developing and implementing treatment programs within high-risk, high-need, and high-poverty Tribal communities.