Resources for Tribal and Urban Indian Populations Addressing the Opioid Epidemic in Indian Country

Tribal Medication-Assisted Treatment (TMAT)
Project Materials

The Tribal Medication-Assisted Treatment (TMAT) Project was created by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to “promote opioid safety, improve the availability and provision of MAT, and facilitate wider access to naloxone (Narcan) with special consideration for Tribal and Urban Indian values, culture, and treatments.” This work is “focused on sharing knowledge among Tribal and Urban Indian communities, Tribal and Urban Indian health programs, and community-based partners on best practices for prevention, treatment and recovery from opioid use disorder, stimulant use disorders, and other co-occurring substance use disorders in California Indian Country.”
As a part of the TMAT Project, many materials and resources have been created to train and educate California American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) community members, Tribal and Urban Indian providers, and other individuals serving AIAN communities. These materials and resources have been gathered here to make them easily accessible to all who would like to use them.
To learn more about the TMAT Project, click here to visit the DHCS TMAT website.

Naloxone (Narcan) Materials

The materials below provide general information about naloxone (Narcan), which is a medication used to reverse an opioid overdose. (CDC)
Naloxone (Narcan) Materials

General MAT Materials

The materials below provide general information about medication-assisted treatment (MAT) (also called medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD)), which is the use of both medication and counseling as a treatment method for opioid use disorders. (FDA)
General MAT Materials

Harm Reduction Materials

The Native-specific materials below provide general information about harm reduction, which is a set of practices and policies that seek to reduce the negative consequences of drug use. Harm reduction can address stigma, infections, lack of accessibility to services, etc. by equipping people who use drugs with “life-saving tools and information to create positive change in their lives and potentially save their lives.” For example, needle exchange programs and fentanyl test strips help keep our relatives as safe as possible when they are not yet ready to give up using substances. (SAMHSA)
Harm Reduction Materials

Stigma Materials

The materials below provide general information about stigma regarding substance use disorder, which is a key barrier to receiving treatment. (Johns Hopkins)
Stigma Materials

Trauma Materials

The materials below provide general information about trauma, including historical trauma experienced by AIAN populations, and how it can lead to substance abuse. “Research demonstrates a strong link between exposure to traumatic events and substance use problems. Many people who have experienced child abuse, criminal attack, disasters, war, or other traumatic events turn to alcohol or drugs to help them deal with emotional pain, bad memories, poor sleep, guilt, shame, anxiety, or terror.” (ISTSS)
Trauma Materials

Fentanyl Materials

The materials below provide general information about fentanyl, which is a very powerful synthetic opioid used as a pain reliever in medical settings. Illegally made fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. Even in small doses, fentanyl can be deadly. (CDC)
Fentanyl Materials

Opioid Use and Other Substance Use Disorder Materials

The materials below provide general information about opioid use disorder, which is the use of opioids “even when the person wants to stop, or when it negatively affects a person’s physical and emotional well-being.” (Johns Hopkins)
Opioid Use and Other Substance Use Disorder Materials

Culturally Centered Care Materials

The materials below provide general information about integrating culture into substance use disorder care, which is considered by many to be an essential component of effective care.
Culturally Centered Care Materials

Reports

Reports

Miscellaneous Materials

These materials cover topics related to substance use disorder or MAT not otherwise categorized above.
Miscellaneous Materials

Contributing Organizations

The materials presented above have been created by the following organizations and are available for you to use with their permission.

University of Southern California (USC) Initiative for California American Indian Health Research and Evaluation (I-CAIHRE)

Click here to visit the USC I-CAIHRE
Click here to contact USC I-CAIHRE

California Consortium for Urban Indian Health (CCUIH)

Click here to visit CCUIH
Click here to contact CCUIH

The California Rural Indian Health Board, Inc. (CRIHB)

Click here to visit the CRIHB
Click here to contact CRIHB

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP)

Click here to visit UCLA ISAP
Click here to contact UCLA ISAP

TeleWell

TeleWell is no longer operational.