Improving substance use and behavioral health services for Alaska Native communities
Official title: Commitment to Recovery: Alaska Native Community Needs for Substance Use Treatment
Funded at Southcentral Foundation · NIH-11367182 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project works with Alaska Native and American Indian communities in southcentral Alaska to design better prevention, treatment, and recovery supports for people affected by substance use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Southcentral Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Anchorage, United States) |
| Project start | August 26, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $245,416 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2DA061138-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367182 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Alaska Native and American Indian adults, families, and community members in southcentral Alaska (including Anchorage and surrounding rural villages) who have experience with substance use or who want to help improve local services.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not live in southcentral Alaska, are not part of the AN/AI communities served by Southcentral Foundation, or need immediate clinical treatment may not directly benefit from this planning-focused project.
What this research studies
We are working with Southcentral Foundation to build on a 2018 community health needs assessment that identified substance use and behavioral health as top concerns. The project gathers feedback from customer-owners, healthcare staff, and leaders across Anchorage and 55 rural villages to find gaps in prevention, addiction awareness, short- and long-term treatment, and overdose response. Leaders will use what people say to improve access to care, expand treatment options, and strengthen prevention and suicide support services. The goal is to create community-driven plans that better meet the needs of Alaska Native and American Indian people and their families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could increase access to culturally relevant prevention and treatment services and reduce overdoses and untreated behavioral health problems among Alaska Native and American Indian people.
How similar studies have gone: Community health needs assessments and tribal-led service redesigns have previously helped health systems improve access and tailoring of behavioral health and substance use services, so this project builds on established community-engagement practices.
Where this research is happening
-
Southcentral Foundation
Anchorage, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shane, Aliassa — Southcentral Foundation
- Study coordinator: Shane, Aliassa
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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.