April, 2019
Trauma and Addiction in Indian Country
Trauma can take many forms. In Indian Country, many grapple with the effects of both contemporary and historical trauma , including its role in addiction. Research has shown that there is an intimate connection between trauma and substance use. Individuals who have experienced trauma can be predisposed to substance use and addiction issues if trauma is not addressed. Check out the resources below to learn more and tune into this month's Indian Country Opioid Response Community of Learning session!
Promising Practices in Indian Country
We R Native features a variety of resources for youth, including a forum to ask cultural and health - related questions. In a recent video, Ask Auntie responds to a question about historical trauma. Auntie delves into not just what historical trauma is, including inter-generational trauma and epigenetic inheritance theory, as well as symptoms and ways to heal.

Click the above image to watch the video or visit the We R Native's Ask Auntie web page.
In 2015, Dr. Gabor Maté spoke at the First Nations' Trauma, Healing and the Brain: Community Learning Event, where he described addiction and disease as the result of an individual's experiences the first few years of life. He also discusses the link between the mind and body, including how experiencing childhood trauma increases an individual's risk of addiction.

Click the above image above or visit Relationship Inspired Learning and Development's YouTube video to watch.
Upcoming Events & Educational Opportunities
April:

May:


Join the Substance Use Disorder ECHO clinic, held the 1 st & 3 rd Thursday of every month at 11am PST. The 1 hour clinics include the opportunity to present cases, receive recommendations & become part of a learning community. Visit the teleECHO Clinic website to learn more.
To submit an article for the May newsletter or share upcoming events & educational opportunities, email [email protected] with the subject line "Opioid Response Newsletter" by May 15 th .