# Examination of evolving opioid misuse and overdose risk among American Indians

> **NIH NIH S06** · INDIAN HEALTH COUNCIL, INC. · 2022 · $378,856

## Abstract

Project Summary 
American Indian communities have been greatly affected by the opioid epidemic with many 
communities being overwhelmed by opioid use and opioid overdose. Among all racial/ethnic 
groups in the U.S, American Indians and Alaska Natives have the second highest rate of 
overdose fatalities from all opioids and second and third highest overdose fatality rates from 
heroin and synthetic opioids. As with other parts of the country, opioids are the main driver of 
drug overdose deaths in California. Within Southern California, surveillance data indicates that 
areas encompassing American Indian reservations have experienced some of the highest age- 
adjusted rates of opioid-related overdose deaths, hospitalization, and emergency department 
visits. While there have been efforts to curtail the opioid crisis, much of this work has focused on 
population-level strategies without enough focus on the community dynamics and local-level 
context of opioid use. The overarching goal of this study is to characterize the changing 
etiology of opioid misuse and overdose risk among Southern California American Indian (AI) 
adults by implementing research methods to promote community engagement and inform a 
timely public health response to the opioid epidemic. Over a 4-year period, we will collect locally 
relevant data from diverse sources (80 interviews, 200 surveys, and population-level data on 
opioid overdose fatalities) to capture emerging patterns of risks and triangulate that information 
to inform the planning and allocation of prevention and treatment services for AI adults. Our 
study will be guided by the following Specific Aims: 1. Identify the epidemic profile of individuals 
at risk for opioid misuse and opioid overdose; 2. Examine community assets and capacity to 
address prevention and treatment of opioid use/misuse and resulting overdose; and 3. Develop 
community-based surveillance tool to inform community action towards reducing opioid 
overdose fatalities. By combining multiple information sources, a more comprehensive analysis 
and accurate picture of the opioid crisis can be generated. The public health significance of this 
study will be to continuously assess the environment contributing to opioid misuse and overdose 
risk across different social and geographical settings among AI Tribes. We anticipate that our 
findings will inform the short-term and long-term planning of prevention and treatment services 
that are responsive to the needs of California Tribes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10438466
- **Project number:** 1S06GM146121-01
- **Recipient organization:** INDIAN HEALTH COUNCIL, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Tommi L Gaines
- **Activity code:** S06 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $378,856
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-15 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10438466

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10438466, Examination of evolving opioid misuse and overdose risk among American Indians (1S06GM146121-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10438466. Licensed CC0.

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