Community program to map and improve substance use care for Utah Navajo people
Official title: Development and Implementation of a Community-Led Research Program in the Utah Navajo Health System
Funded at Utah Navajo Health System, INC. · NIH-11367180 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will work with the Utah Navajo community to understand alcohol and drug problems and make local care better for people with substance use concerns.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah Navajo Health System, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Montezuma Creek, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $643,886 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2DA061144-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367180 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Diné (Navajo) adults who receive care from the Utah Navajo Health System or who live in the seven UNHS service chapters and have experience with alcohol or drug use.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not live in or receive care from the Utah Navajo Health System or those without alcohol or drug concerns are unlikely to see direct benefits.
What this research studies
The project is led with the Utah Navajo Health System and local chapters to document how common substance use problems are and how current behavioral health services are used. The team will combine clinic records, community surveys, and conversations with patients, providers, and traditional healers to describe needs and strengths. Community members will guide the research process and help translate findings into better links to medications, counseling, peer support, and culturally based care. Activities include developing a community-led research plan, collecting local data, and building partnerships across agencies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lead to more tailored, culturally respectful addiction services and better access to treatment for Diné patients in the Utah Navajo Nation.
How similar studies have gone: Culturally led programs in other Indigenous communities have improved engagement and treatment uptake, but focused research on substance use within the Utah Navajo population is limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah Navajo Health System, INC.
Montezuma Creek, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hendy, Rick — Utah Navajo Health System, INC.
- Study coordinator: Hendy, Rick
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.