Opioid use and overdose risks among Southern California American Indian and Alaska Native adults
Official title: Examination of evolving opioid misuse and overdose risk among American Indians
Funded at Indian Health Council, INC. · NIH-11174392 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will collect interviews, surveys, and local records to understand changing opioid use and overdose risks for American Indian and Alaska Native adults in Southern California.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indian Health Council, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Valley Center, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $340,885 |
| NIH project number | 5S06GM146121-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11174392 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are American Indian or Alaska Native adults (age 21 and older) living in Southern California who can complete a survey or take part in an interview and share local experiences.
✕Less likely to help
People under 21, non–American Indian/Alaska Native individuals, or those living outside Southern California may not directly benefit from this project's findings.
What this research studies
This project works with our American Indian and Alaska Native communities in Southern California to document local patterns of opioid use and overdose. Over four years the team will conduct about 80 interviews, 200 surveys, and analyze local overdose and hospital data. The work emphasizes community engagement so tribal leaders and community members help shape questions and share insights. Together these personal stories and population data will be used to spot emerging risks and inform timely local responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide local prevention, treatment, and overdose-response efforts tailored to American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
How similar studies have gone: Similar public-health surveillance and community-engaged studies have helped target local overdose interventions, but focused work specifically in Southern California AI/AN communities is relatively limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Indian Health Council, INC.
Valley Center, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gaines, Tommi L — Indian Health Council, INC.
- Study coordinator: Gaines, Tommi L
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.