# Evaluation of an optimized intervention to prevent early substance use among American Indian youth: Examination of expanded impacts on youth and parents

> **NIH NIH R37** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2020 · $290,496

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The recent opioid crisis across the United States has drawn national attention and resulted in the allocation of
significant federal resources to substance use treatment and prevention efforts. American Indian (AI)
communities, however, have faced a substance use crisis of similar scope for many years, without the benefit
of proportionate attention and resources. Disparities in substance use disorder impacting AI populations are
well-documented, and the roots of these disparities can be traced to significantly higher adolescent substance
use among AIs compared to other ethnic groups in the U.S. AI youth report earlier initiation of substance use
than their non AI peers. National trends of escalating opioid use are evident among AI populations as well, and
appear, in fact, to be even more pronounced, reflecting the overall pattern of disparities observed across
substances, with AI youth reporting greater heroin and OxyContin use than youth from other racial and ethnic
groups. The imperative remains strong to direct attention and resources to focus on early prevention efforts for
AI youth. In response to this need, researchers at the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health in
the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado have recently completed an intensive
community-engaged process to rigorously adapt the Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth
10-14 for the cultural context of a Northern Plains AI community, creating a program optimized for AI families,
Thiwáhe Gluwáš'akapi (TG, sacred home in which family is made strong). The current study will test the
effectiveness of TG for delaying the onset of substance use among young adolescents. Based on evidence
that the original Strengthening Families program may impact risk behaviors beyond substance use, and in
response to requests from participating families and community partners to help address suicide risk among
their youth, the current study will also test the impact of TG on suicidal ideation among youth. In addition, in
recognition of the potential of for the TG program to have a reciprocal influence on the adults participating in
the program with their children, capitalizing on parents' motivation to protect their youth and make concomitant
positive changes in their own lives, the current study will examine effects on adult substance use as well.
Examining effects on adult substance use is especially timely as the opioid epidemic rages in in this
community, as around the country. In summary, this study will address three specific aims, testing
effectiveness of the TG prevention program on three distinct sets of outcomes: (1) Substance use among
youth: delaying the onset of use and reducing use among youth who initiated prior to program participation; (2)
Suicide risk among youth: reducing suicidal ideation and other risk factors for suicide and increasing protective
factors; and (3) Substance use among adults: Reducing us...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10224964
- **Project number:** 3R37DA047926-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** NANCY Rumbaugh WHITESELL
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $290,496
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2024-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10224964

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10224964, Evaluation of an optimized intervention to prevent early substance use among American Indian youth: Examination of expanded impacts on youth and parents (3R37DA047926-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10224964. Licensed CC0.

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