"It Changed Everything": Challenges to Indigenous Recovery Practices Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health
• Indigenous Studies

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated health inequities for Native American communities.
• Access to addiction and recovery services intensified for Indigenous populations.
• A tribal-university collaboration in Arizona explored pandemic impacts on Indigenous recovery community well-being and resilience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental well-being and resilience.
• To understand factors influencing mental well-being and resilience in the Indigenous substance use recovery community.
• To identify challenges and protective factors for Indigenous individuals in recovery during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of transcribed individual interviews (n=19).
• Inclusion of providers of Western addiction treatment services and Indigenous community members in recovery.
• Focus on experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Results:

• Four major themes impacted mental well-being: healthcare barriers, culture in recovery, impact of colonization/historical trauma, and importance of relationships.
• Identified specific challenges faced by the Indigenous recovery community.
• Highlighted the role of cultural factors and social connections in resilience.

Conclusions:

• The study offers insights into the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Indigenous and vulnerable recovery populations.
• Findings underscore the need for Indigenous-grounded and culturally informed recovery interventions.
• Emphasizes the importance of addressing systemic inequities and historical trauma in addiction recovery support.