A Collision of Public Health Crises: The Intersecting Impact of COVID-19 and Opioids/Substance Use for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities Virtual Meeting

Opening Reflection

Clinton Alexander, M.P.H. (Anishinaabe White Earth Band of Ojibwe Nation) 

Welcome, Introductions, and Meeting Goals

• Nora Volkow, M.D., Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse
• RADM Michael D. Weahkee, M.H.A., M.B.A. (Zuni Tribe) Director, Indian Health Service
• Alec Thundercloud, M.D. (Ho-Chunk Nation) Director, Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Carmen Clelland Pharm. D., M.P.A., M.P.H., CAPT/USPHS, (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes) Director, Office of Tribal Affairs and Strategic Alliances, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Kathy Etz, Ph.D., Director, NIDA Native American Program

Available Data on the Intersection of COVID19, OUD, Substance Use and Mental Health - Brief Updates 

COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities During the Pandemic in AI/AN Communities 
Alec Thundercloud, M.D. (Ho-Chunk Nation) 
Director, Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy 
Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, SAMHSA 

The Impact of the Intersecting Substance Use Crisis and COVID 19 Pandemic on AI/AN Communities 
Tamara James, Ph.D. (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) 
Acting Director, Division of Behavioral Health, HIS 

National and Local Data Sources to Study the Intersection Between Opioids and COVID-19 among Native Americans 
Fares Qeadan, Ph.D. 
Assistant Professor, Family & Preventive Medicine, Division of Public Health 
University of Utah School of Medicine
Kevin English, Dr.PH 
Director, Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center 

Update from the Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center 
Jessica Leston, Dr.PH, M.P.H. (Tsimshian) 
HIV/STI/HCV Clinical Programs Manger 
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board 

Drug overdose and mental health-related emergency department trends among AI/AN during COVID 19 (Native ECHO) 
Heidi Lovejoy, M.Sc., Substance Use Epidemiologist 
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board 

Working with Tribal Populations: Perspectives from the Minnesota Department of Health 
Nate Wright, M.P.H. 
Epidemiologist & Drug Overdose Surveillance Project Coordinator 
Minnesota Dept. of Health 

Update from the Great Lakes Hub for the Johns Hopkins American Indian Center for Health
Melissa Walls, Ph.D. (Bois Forte and Couchiching First Nation Anishinaabe) 
Director of Great Lakes Hub, Center for American Indian Health 
Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health
Novalene Goklish, M.S. (White Mountain Apache) 
Senior Program Coordinator and Research Associate 
Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health 

Northwest Indian College NARCH: Leveraging an existing research program to respond in real time to the collision of COVID-19 and OUD Crises
Stacy Rasmus, Ph.D. 
Director, Center for Alaska Native Health Research 
University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Rural and Community Development

4:10 PM 

Community/Treatment Provider Updates 

Update from didgʷálič Wellness Center 
Dawn Lee, COO of didgwálič Wellness Center, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community 

C-19: Amplifying the Vulnerabilities and Opportunities of an Epidemic 
Clinton Alexander, M.P.H. (Anishinaabe White Earth Band of Ojibwe Nation) 
Tribal Public Health Official 

Update from the Native American Community Clinic 
Antony Stately, Ph.D. (Ojibwe/Oneida) 
CEO of Native American Community Clinic 

Update from the Choctaw Nation 
Nathan Billy, M.Ed., L.P.C. 
Deputy Director of Behavioral Health, Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority 

Discussion

• Begin a dialogue on how data/research can support a response 
• Identify additional available data sources 
• Identify barriers to accessing data 
• Hear from stakeholders what they are experiencing and what data would be helpful to communities as they seek to mitigate the impact of these intersecting epidemics 

Next Steps

Nora Volkow, M.D., Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse
Kathy Etz, Ph.D., Director, NIDA Native American Program