Equine and Culturally Grounded Treatment for Substance Use

Tribal elders, equine therapists, and cultural experts will tailor the Lakota Equine-Assisted Therapy program to serve Indigenous adolescents and young adults who are at risk of or are in recovery from opioid use disorder. Up to 30 youth and young adults from the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe in South Dakota will participate in weeklong camps that combines equine therapy with traditional healing practices, such as drumming and storytelling. In addition to evaluating the program’s impact on measures of mental health, resilience, and cultural engagement, project leaders will explore the financial feasibility of implementing the program on a larger scale.