COVID-19-related effects on alcohol and other Drug use among indigenous peoples

Indigenous peoples in the United States have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Using the framework for historical oppression, resilience, and transcendence (FHORT), the present research study recounted the lived experiences of a group of 31 Indigenous women from a tribe located in the southeastern region of the United States regarding alcohol and other drug (AOD) use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three major themes emerged from interviews: (a) no change or decreased AOD use, (b) increased AOD use, and (c) reasons for AOD use. Participant accounts of AOD use during the COVID-19 pandemic were multidirectional and complex, reflecting a rich diversity of experience.