OxyContin Misuse on a Reservation: Qualitative Reports by American Indians in Talking Circles

Abstract

Few studies have addressed OxyContin use among American Indians (AIs) on reservations. Eight focus groups were conducted as “talking circles” (2006 and ) with 49 AI adults and youth. An emergent design was utilized in which the initial two circles were planned, but the subsequent six circles evolved from tribal members’ input. Participants reported an increase in OxyContin use; negative effects on individuals, families, and the tribe; a lack of treatment options; and a growing problem on other reservations. Results indicate the need to further research prevalence and patterns of use to design interventions to curtail OxyContin abuse on reservations.

Keywords :

• American Indians
• OxyContin
• prescription drugs
• reservations
• talking circles

THE AUTHORS

Sandra L. Momper, Ph.D., M.S.W. (Chippewa/Ojibwa), is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Michigan and a former NIDA post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan Substance Abuse Research Center. She earned her doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Social Work, where her mixed method dissertation research on maternal gambling, parenting in the home environment, and child outcomes in AI families was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. Her research interests include exploring gambling, smoking and the use of alcohol and other drugs among AIs on reservations to assist in designing prevention/intervention programs. She conducts culturally appropriate collaborative research with Indian people encouraging tribal members to become full participants in all phases of the research. Dr. Momper serves on the board of American Indian Health and Family Services of Detroit. In the fall of 2008, she assumed a position as an Assistant Professor in the University of Michigan's School of Social Work. In her spare time, she swims, kayaks, and attends a weekly Ojibwa language group called “Noongo e-Anishinaabemjig,” which means “People who speak Anishinaabe today.”

Jorge Delva, Ph.D., M.S.W., a native of Chile, is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work and Faculty Associate at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. He is the Co-Director of the Vivian A. and James L. Curtis School of Social Work Research and Training Center, a Center that fosters interdisciplinary externally funded research. His work involves studying the effect and trends of individual risk and protective factors on substance use and childhood obesity while taking into account neighborhood and other contextual level factors, with a particular focus on racial and ethnic differences. In his spare time, he practices martial arts and enjoys outrigger canoe paddling.

Beth Glover Reed is Ph.D. in Community and Clinical Psychology. She holds faculty appointments in Social Work and Women's Studies and is affiliated with the Substance Abuse Research Center at the University of Michigan. The central themes of her research are: (1) the impacts of gender, race, ethnicity, and other social categories associated with status and power on and within social systems of various sizes and types and (2) how to promote social justice and prevent social and individual inequities. She serves on a number of national and community boards and collaborative initiatives and frequently uses participatory methods that integrate research and action. She maintains a large assortment of plants, both outside and indoors, and also endeavors to nurture her students, family, and friends.