Healing journey: Experiences of First Nations individuals with recovery from opioid use.

Objective: To understand experiences of recovery from opioid use among First Nations individuals living in a small remote community.

Design: Qualitative phenomenologic study.

Setting: Northwestern Ontario.

Participants: Sixteen First Nations individuals living in a remote community who had participated in or completed the community opioid agonist therapy program.

Methods: Extensive community consultation took place to ensure local acceptance of the study and permission for publication. Semistructured telephone interviews with consenting participants were audiorecorded between November and December 2021 and transcribed. Transcripts were reviewed and discussed in meetings with Indigenous and non-Indigenous research team members who conducted thematic analysis using immersion and crystallization.

Main Findings: Participants described their opioid use as a form of self-management of trauma. Their recovery processes were multifaceted and included developing cultural and self-awareness. Motivation for change often arose from concerns about family well-being and finances. Traditional cultural practices and time spent on the land were identified as important wellness experiences. Barriers to healing included limited clinical and holistic addiction services, particularly around dose weaning and opioid agonist therapy discontinuation.

Conclusion: Community-based addiction programming for First Nations patients needs to be robust. It requires resources for trauma-informed clinical and addiction care, culturally appropriate addictions education, aftercare support, and land-based activities.