Improving drug use outcomes in Indigenous communities through cultural strengths and leadership.
Official title: Community-Driven Indigenous Research, Cultural Strengths & Leadership to Advance Equity in Drug Use Outcomes (CIRCLE)
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10913546 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working with American Indian and Alaska Native communities to find better ways to help people recover from drug and alcohol use by using their cultural strengths and family support, while also training local scholars to lead these efforts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $2,826,539 |
| NIH project number | 5P50DA058619-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10913546 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are American Indian and Alaska Native individuals affected by drug and alcohol use.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not identify as Indigenous or are not affected by substance use issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on addressing the health problems related to drug and alcohol use in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. It aims to collaborate with these communities to enhance recovery and prevention efforts by utilizing cultural strengths and family-based approaches. The project will employ community-driven participatory research methods to identify risk and protective factors associated with substance use, while also fostering the development of Indigenous scholars in the field. By centering Indigenous health equity, the research seeks to create impactful interventions tailored to the unique needs of these populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes and reduced substance use-related issues in Indigenous communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in community-driven approaches to health interventions in Indigenous populations, indicating a promising avenue for this project.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walls, Melissa L. — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Walls, Melissa L.
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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.