Preventing early substance use in American Indian youth and supporting families
Official title: Evaluation of an optimized intervention to prevent early substance use among American Indian youth: Examination of expanded impacts on youth and parents
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11248730 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A culturally grounded program that strengthens family, cultural, and community ties to help American Indian adolescents avoid starting alcohol and drug use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2019 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $710,278 |
| NIH project number | 5R37DA047926-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11248730 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are American Indian adolescents (early teens) and their parents or caregivers from partnering tribal communities, especially those on the Northern Plains Reservation.
✕Less likely to help
This preventive program is unlikely to help people who already have an established substance use disorder or those who are not within the targeted tribal communities or age range.
What this research studies
You would be invited to take part in Thiwáhe Gluwáš’akapi (TG), a prevention program co-developed with a Northern Plains Reservation that brings together young American Indian adolescents and their parents to build family and cultural connections. The research team refined the program through a multiphase optimization trial (TG1) and is now testing the optimized version in a larger, community-based effort. Participation typically involves attending group sessions, completing brief surveys, and allowing follow-up contacts to see how youth and parent outcomes change over time. The project is run in partnership with tribal communities to keep the program culturally relevant and locally led.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce early substance use among American Indian adolescents and strengthen protective family and cultural supports.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier pilot and optimization work (TG1) showed promising preliminary results, but larger community trials are ongoing to confirm the effects.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Whitesell, Nancy Rumbaugh — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Whitesell, Nancy Rumbaugh
Related research
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Supporting parents with substance use disorders through community engagement
This study is all about helping parents who struggle with substance use by creating a support center that listens to their needs and challenges, so they can get the treatment they deserve while still being great caregivers.
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.