Trauma-informed Approaches to Substance Use Interventions with Indigenous Peoples: A Scoping Review

Indigenous Peoples experience disproportionately higher rates of problematic substance use. These problems are situated in a context of individual and intergenerational trauma from colonization, residential schools, and racist and discriminatory practices, policies, and services. Therefore, substance use interventions need to adopt a trauma-informed approach. We aimed to synthesize and report the current literature exploring the intersection of trauma and substance use interventions for Indigenous Peoples. Fourteen databases were searched using keywords for Indigenous Peoples, trauma, and substance use. Of the 1373 sources identified, 117 met inclusion criteria. Literature on trauma and substance use with Indigenous Peoples has increased in the last 5 years (2012-2016, n = 29; 2017-2021, n = 48), with most literature coming from the United States and Canada and focusing on historical or intergenerational trauma. Few articles focused on intersectional identities such as 2SLGBTQIA+ (n = 4), and none focused on veterans. There were limited sources (n = 25) that reported specific interventions at the intersection of trauma and substance use. These sources advocate for multi-faceted, trauma-informed, and culturally safe interventions for use with Indigenous Peoples. This scoping review illuminates gaps in the literature and highlights a need for research reporting on trauma-informed interventions for substance use with Indigenous Peoples.

How to promote and maintain good oral health in spite of wearing dentures

A frank discussion at the beginning of treatment will inform the patient of what is possible in denture fabrication as well as in proper and responsible denture care and oral hygiene for the life of the patient. Dentures and mouths need examination and care for life. Only by regular visits to the dentist can this be accomplished. Dentures seldom change: mouths do. Regular visits allow professional evaluation of the oral tissues and the functioning jaw-joint mechanism to detect early treatment needs of the tissue and/or the denture. This interface must be intimate, vibrant, healthy, clean, and comfortable. To this end only, the professional person with a depth of knowledge, total education, keen insight to the anatomy, physiology, total body health, and the psyche and its interrelations to the inanimate prosthesis can make the denture an integral part of the living being. The dentist can keep it that way with the patient's cooperation. Dentures can be one of the best replacements of human body parts; but professional care and good home care are essential.