IHS Opioid Stewardship

The Indian Health Service (IHS) Opioid Strategy supports holistic, patient-centered care that incorporates the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of each individual patient. A strong patient-provider relationship that respects American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) culture and tradition through shared-decision making is an important component in developing a treatment plan. IHS aims to reduce stigma while promoting culturally-sensitive, appropriate, and effective best practices related to opioid stewardship and substance use disorders, including evidence-based treatment, recovery support, primary prevention, and other harm reduction strategies.