Opioids, addictive painkillers, are known gateways to heroin abuse. Opioid addiction on its own, however, can also wreak havoc on individuals and their communities. Though these painkillers were used sparingly since their discovery thousands of years ago, the 1990s brought a change in views on medical treatment, and these opioids were prescribed and overprescribed without regard to their addictive qualities, fueling the start of the nationwide opioid epidemic (Davidson). Due to centuries of generational trauma and perpetuated economic inequality, Native American people of Arizona and the southwest in general are more prone to falling victim to opioid addiction, tearing families and communities apart. Though this is recognized in multiple studies, news articles, and academic journals, there is still not an adequate response to begin to heal these communities.

Native Americans are a demographic greatly affected by opioid addiction for many reasons in addition to the addictive qualities and availability. Many Native Americans, or American Indians, experience what is called generational trauma. The impact of this phenomenon was studied in “Historical Trauma and Substance Use among American Indian People with Current Substance Use Problems” by members of the health departments of the University of Texas and Montana State University, Julie Gameon and Monica Skewes. Generational trauma, also called historical trauma, describes the lasting negative impacts that the descendants of historically oppressed groups feel into the present, often manifesting in poor mental and physical health, and a disconnect from culture (Gameon and Skewes). The experience of generational trauma can lead to self-medication, weaker family and spiritual ties, and feelings of worthlessness. Many studies have shown that there is a direct connection between those who score higher on a historical trauma scale and the likelihood to experience substance abuse. Since many Native Americans experience this trauma, they are more likely to abuse drugs (Gameon and Skewes). This abuse is believed to be a form of self-medication, where drugs and alcohol are used to deal with the lasting effects of trauma, including depression and anger.

Part of the problem with fighting the issue is that a lot of people are oblivious to the impact it has on American Indian communities. Shervin Aazami, a member of the NIHB, laments that the issue’s “invisibility contributes to the lack of awareness, lack of correct funding, lack of technical assistance and resources directly to the tribes”, stating that funds are usually distributed state or city-wide, leaving a gap in funding for reservations (Gatalica). Funding is not even close to adequate to deal with the current issues. In 2018, former president Donald Trump signed legislation that would allot 5% of an opioid relief bill to Native American people, but, considering the disproportionate prevalence of opioid abuse among this demographic and the root causes of the issue, that amount will do little to solve the issue (Gatalica).

In order to bring awareness to this issue, I have decided to bring this issue to the attention of the general public and our AZ legislators. The goal is to increase funding for opioid prevention programs, which have been shown to decrease fatalities significantly. Please sign below if you want to make a difference!

Sources

Davidson, Tish. "Opioid Epidemic." The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, edited by Jacqueline L. Longe, 6th ed., vol. 6, Gale, 2020, pp. 3751-3754. Gale eBooks, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX7986601350/GVRLu=mcc_chandler&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=3ad5bde8. Accessed 27 Oct. 2021.

Gameon, Julie A., and Monica C. Skewes. “Historical Trauma and Substance Use among American Indian People with Current Substance Use Problems.” Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, vol. 35, no. 3, May 2021, pp. 295–309. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1037/adb0000729.

Gatalica, Daniel. “Native American Communities, Hard Hit by the Opioid Crisis, Seek Innovative Solutions.” Cronkite News - Arizona PBS, Cronkite News, 8 Nov. 2019, https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2019/09/23/native-american-opioid-crisis-solutions/