Exploring how cultural ceremonies can help reduce substance use in American Indian adults
Official title: The Protective Role of Ceremony Against Substance Use for American Indian Adults
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11136373 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how traditional Ojibwe ceremonies can help American Indian adults reduce substance use by connecting them with their culture and healing from past traumas.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $549,376 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA057904-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11136373 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are American Indian adults aged 21 and older who have not participated in traditional Ojibwe ceremonies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not part of the American Indian community or those who have previously completed the Gii’igoshimong ceremony may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of traditional Ojibwe ceremonies on substance use behaviors among American Indian adults. By engaging community members in cultural practices, the study aims to address the historical and personal traumas that contribute to substance use. The project will involve a randomized controlled trial with 300 participants, focusing on the protective effects of ceremony and identifying various psychosocial and neurocognitive factors involved. Participants will be recruited from the American Indian community, particularly those who have not previously engaged in these ceremonies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved substance use outcomes and overall health for American Indian adults through culturally relevant interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that culturally-based interventions can effectively improve health outcomes in Indigenous populations, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gonzalez, Miigis B — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Gonzalez, Miigis B
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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.