scholarly journals The Impact of Training Indigenous Facilitators for a Two-Eyed Seeing Research Treatment Intervention for Intergenerational Trauma and Addiction

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Teresa Naseba Marsh ◽  
David C. Marsh ◽  
Lisa M. Najavits

Intergenerational trauma in Indigenous Peoples was not the result of a targeted event, but rather political and governmental policies inflicted upon entire generations. The resultant effects of these traumas and multiple losses include addiction, depression, anxiety, violence, self-destructive behaviors, and suicide, to name but a few. Traditional healers, Elders, and Indigenous facilitators agree that the reclamation of traditional healing practices combined with conventional interventions could be effective in addressing intergenerational trauma and substance use disorders. Recent research has shown that the blending of Indigenous traditional healing practices and the Western treatment model Seeking Safety resulted in a reduction of intergenerational trauma (IGT) symptoms and substance use disorders (SUD). This article focuses on the Indigenous facilitators who were recruited and trained to conduct the sharing circles as part of the research effort. We describe the six-day training, which focused on the implementation of the Indigenous Healing and Seeking Safety model, as well as the impact the training had on the facilitators. Through the viewpoints and voices of the facilitators, we explore the growth and changes the training brought about for them, as well as their perception of how their changes impacted their clients.

Author(s):  
Teresa Naseba Marsh ◽  
David C Marsh ◽  
Julie Ozawagosh ◽  
Frank Ozawagosh

Many traditional healers and Elders agree that strengthening cultural identity, incorporating traditional healing practices, and encouraging community integration can enhance and improve mental health and reduce substance use disorders (SUD) in Indigenous populations. Despite the fact that traditional healing practices have always been valued by Indigenous Peoples, there is very little research on efficacy. Recent research by one of the authors in this group (T. Marsh) has shown that the blending of Indigenous traditional healing practices and a Western treatment model, Seeking Safety, resulted in a reduction in intergenerational trauma (IGT) symptoms and substance use disorders (SUD). This article focuses on the qualitative evidence concerning the impact of the traditional healing practices, specifically the sweat lodge ceremony. Participants reported an increase in spiritual and emotional well-being that they said was directly attributable to the ceremony. This study demonstrates that it would be beneficial to incorporate Indigenous traditional healing practices, including the sweat lodge ceremony, into Seeking Safety to enhance the health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples with IGT and SUD.


Author(s):  
Teresa Naseba Marsh ◽  
Sheila Cote-Meek ◽  
Nancy L. Young ◽  
Lisa M. Najavits ◽  
Pamela Toulouse

Background: As with many Indigenous groups around the world, Aboriginal communities in Canada face significant challenges with trauma and substance use disorders (SUD). Treatment for intergenerational trauma (IGT) and SUD is challenging due to the complexity of both disorders. There is strong evidence that strengthening cultural identity, incorporating traditional healing practices, encouraging community integration, and inviting political empowerment can enhance and improve mental health and substance use disorders in Aboriginal populations. Methods: The purpose of this study was to explore whether the blending of Indigenous traditional healing practices and the Western treatment model Seeking Safety, which is used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and SUD, resulted in a reduction of IGT symptoms and SUD. Twelve Aboriginal men and 12 Aboriginal women were recruited into this study—all of whom resided in Northern Ontario and self-identified as having experienced IGT and SUD. The Indigenous Healing and Seeking Safety (IHSS) group (conducted as sharing circles) were offered twice a week over 13 weeks. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews as well as an end-of-treatment focus group. A qualitative thematic analysis was performed to depict themes. Results: Out of the 24 Aboriginal people who entered the program, nine women and eight men completed the program. Analysis from the qualitative thematic data identified four core themes. Furthermore, the sharing circles and the presence of Elders and Aboriginal helpers increased the benefits of the blended approach. Conclusion: Evidence from this qualitative study suggests that it could be beneficial to incorporate Indigenous traditional healing practices into Seeking Safety to enhance the health and well-being of Aboriginal people with IGT and SUD. This implementation project, if replicated, has the potential to enhance the health and well-being of Aboriginal peoples. The use of blended implementation can be an important option for clinicians and health-care professionals when working with Aboriginal populations. Only the qualitative results will be discussed in this article; quantitative results will be published separately.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. N. Marsh ◽  
C. Eshakakogan ◽  
J. K. Eibl ◽  
M. Spence ◽  
K. A. Morin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Indigenous communities in Canada face significant challenges with intergenerational trauma, which manifests in substance use disorders. There is consensus that connecting treatment approaches to culture, land, community, and spiritual practices is a pathway to healing trauma and substance use disorders for Indigenous peoples. Indigenous residential addiction treatment programs have been established as the primary intervention to provide healing for Indigenous peoples with substance use disorders and intergenerational trauma. However, there is limited evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of these programs. In collaboration with the Benbowopka Treatment Centre, this paper describes a study protocol which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of blending Indigenous Healing Practices and Seeking Safety for the treatment of Indigenous patients with intergenerational trauma and substance use disorders. Methods We will conduct a pre/post Quasi Experimental Community trial, to compare historical treatment outcomes for patients following the implementation of Indigenous Healing and Seeking Safety. We will conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses to understand the differences before and after the intervention is implemented. The pre- Indigenous Healing and Seeking Safety intervention study window will span from 2013 to 2016; n = 343, and the post-Indigenous Healing and Seeking Safety intervention study window from 2018 to 2020; n > 300. All participants will be enrolled in the Benbowopka residential treatment for the first time during the study periods. All data will be anonymized at the time of data entry. Propensity matching will be undertaken for patient characteristics, including sex/gender, age, and substance use type. Results and conclusions The study findings could be used to inform intergenerational trauma and substance use disorders residential treatment programming for Indigenous communities across Canada. Our work will contribute to the field of community-based intergenerational trauma and substance use disorders programming by addressing objectives that consider: (a) the patient perspective, (b) the program perspective, and (c) the community perspective. The study findings may validate an innovative approach for evaluating the effectiveness of residential addiction treatment and particularly the effective and appropriate care for Indigenous patients with intergenerational trauma and substance use disorders.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sidsel Karsberg ◽  
Morten Hesse ◽  
Michael Mulbjerg Pedersen ◽  
Ruby Charak ◽  
Mads Uffe Pedersen

Abstract Background It is believed that clients with psychological trauma experiences have a poor prognosis with regard to treatment participation and outcomes for substance use disorders. However, knowledge on the effect of the number of trauma experiences is scarce. Methods Using data from drug use disorder (DUD) treatment in Denmark, we assessed the impact of having experienced multiple potentially traumatic experiences on DUD treatment efficacy. Baseline and follow-up data from 775 young participants (mean age = 20.2 years, standard deviation = 2.6) recruited at nine treatment centers were included in analyses. Results Analyses showed that participants who were exposed multiple trauma experiences also reported a significantly higher intake of cannabis at treatment entry, and a lower well-being score than participants who reported less types or no types of victimization experiences. During treatment, patients with multiple types of trauma experiences showed a slower rate of reduction of cannabis than patients with few or no trauma experiences. The number of trauma types was not associated with number of sessions attended or the development of well-being in treatment. Conclusion Overall, the results show that although traumatized youth in DUD treatment show up for treatment, helping them to reduce substance use during treatment is uniquely challenging. Trial registration ISRCTN88025085, date of registration: 29.08.2016, retrospectively registered.


2016 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 73-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne N. Banducci ◽  
Sarah J. Bujarski ◽  
Marcel O. Bonn-Miller ◽  
Amee Patel ◽  
Kevin M. Connolly

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilana Berlowitz ◽  
Christian Ghasarian ◽  
Heinrich Walt ◽  
Fernando Mendive ◽  
Vanessa Alvarado ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Worley ◽  
Kathleen R. Delaney

Objective: To analyze science and practice surrounding nursing approaches to substance use disorders (SUDs) and make recommendations for the future.Methods: A review of literature and topics related to healthcare provider stigma, science surrounding SUDs, nursing approaches to SUDs in education and practice and evidence based treatment was conducted, analyzed and synthesized.Results: Stigma is embedded in nursing approach to SUDs, up to date information regarding SUDs is not widely disseminated or practiced in nursing.Conclusions: To reduce the impact of stigma and to bring nurses into the “turning the Tide” movement requires an understanding of how beliefs root stigma, building knowledge related to SUDs as an illness, and expansion of nurses' skill when intervening with individuals dealing with SUDs.


2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 257-260
Author(s):  
Shaheen Shora ◽  
Elizabeth Stone ◽  
Keron Fletcher

Aims and MethodThe Impact of Events Scale was administered to 104 in-patients detoxing from alcohol or opiates to determine the prevalence of psychological trauma, the severity of its symptoms and the types of trauma responsible for symptoms.ResultsOut of the 104 in-patients undergoing detoxification, 75 had symptoms of psychological trauma; in 60 patients the symptoms were in the treatable range. Patients with alcohol-dependence were more severely affected. ‘Life events’ traumatised a higher proportion of individuals than ‘traumatic events’.Clinical ImplicationsPsychological trauma requiring treatment is commonly found in substance misusers. This is rarely addressed despite the cormorbid disorder running a complicated clinical course. There are conflicting opinions about best practice, but consideration should be given to providing patients with accessible treatments for psychological trauma.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelis De Jong ◽  
Ali Farhoudian ◽  
Mehrnoosh Vahidi ◽  
Mohsen Ebrahimi ◽  
Hamed Ekhtiari ◽  
...  

Abstract Migrants and refugees are considered vulnerable to mental health problems and substance use disorders; and may be particularly affected by service disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic The International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) ran a multi-phased global survey among clinicians and health professional that are actively working in the field of addiction medicine to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on substance use and related services. In March 2020, the first month after the announcement of the pandemic by the World Health Organization, 177 informants from 77 countries took part in the global survey, and only 12.9% of them reported their countries’ substance use treatment and harm reduction services for the migrants and refugees with substance use disorders continued as usual. In May 2020, 11.7% of respondents of the second phase reported that the services for refugees and migrants improved in comparison to March 2020; 11.7% reported that these services in their country discontinued. Results suggest that refugee and migrants access to treatment and harm reduction services has been reduced as a result of COVID-19. It can be concluded that it is crucial to improve the visibility of migrants’ needs and exploit appropriate interventions for those with substance use disorders.


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