The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has initiated the Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) program, a $268 million effort aimed at empowering Native American communities to lead public health research focused on overdose, substance use, and pain. This initiative is designed to address the unique health disparities faced by Native American communities, which have been disproportionately impacted by the opioid crisis. According to NIH data, overdose death rates are highest among American Indian and Alaska Native people.
The N CREW program will support research projects led by Tribes and Native American-serving organizations, responding directly to the priorities identified by Native leaders during NIH Tribal consultations in 2018 and 2022. The program focuses on integrating Indigenous Knowledge with public health strategies to develop culturally relevant solutions for substance use and chronic pain management. Dr. Nora D. Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, emphasized the importance of Native communities leading these efforts, stating that “Native American communities have the best perspective for developing prevention and therapeutic interventions consistent with their traditions and needs.”
The program will also enhance research capacity within Tribal communities by offering technical assistance, training, and resources. Dr. Walter Koroshetz, Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, highlighted that the initiative will uplift centuries-old Native knowledge in pain treatment to inform modern research, improving chronic pain management and health outcomes for Native populations. The first phase will focus on planning, piloting research, and improving data access.
See “NIH initiative empowers Native American communities in public health research” (August 15, 2024)
