The Choctaw Nation Methamphetamine Data Needs Project
Paul Spicer, Ph.D. Lead Investigator American Indian and Alaska Native Programs F800 Night Horse Campbell Native Health Building 13055 E. 17th Ave., Room 352 PO Box 650B Aurora, CO 80045 Paul.Spicer@UCHSC.edu

The first area of research emphasis in the NIDA Strategic Plan on Reducing Health Disparities (2004 Revision) is the epidemiology of drug abuse, health consequences and infectious diseases among minority populations. Because there are limited data available on methamphetamine use in American Indian communities, exploratory and pilot studies will be conducted as part of CTN protocol CTN-0033 to develop collaborations with tribes and Native American treatment programs and to explore the epidemiology of methamphetamine use and co-occurring problems and disorders in diverse Native American communities.

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma will be participating in the NIDA CTN study of methamphetamine and other drugs through a subcontract with the Oregon Health and Sciences University (OR/HI Node) and with the assistance of Dr. Paul Spicer of the University of Colorado's American Indian and Alaska Native Programs. Because of the sophistication of the Choctaw Nation's ongoing efforts in prevention and treatment of methamphetamine abuse and dependence, this project focuses on inventorying available data sources on methamphetamine, determining gaps in this data, and developing new data collection strategies to address these gaps and support additional work to address methamphetamine and its consequences in the communities of the Choctaw Nation. The Choctaw Nation efforts will be lead by Mr. Joe Bray, Interim Director of Behavioral Health Services for the tribe, with local research assistance. Also participating in this effort are Mr. Mickey Peercy, Executive Director of Health Services for the Choctaw Nation, and Ms. Teresa Jackson, Administrator of the Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority.

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