Substance use, treatment admissions, and recovery trends in diverse Washington State tribal communities.

BACKGROUND: Qualitative and quantitative data and participatory research approaches might be most valid and effective for assessing substance use/abuse and related trends in American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities. METHOD: Twenty-nine federally recognized AIAN tribes in Washington (WA) State were invited to participate in Health Directors (HD) interviews and State treatment admissions data analyses. Ten Tribal HD (or designees) from across WA participated in 30-60-minute qualitative interviews. State treatment admissions data from 2002 to 2008 were analyzed for those who identified with one of 11 participating AIAN communities to explore admission rates by primary drug compared to non-AIANs. Those who entered treatment and belonged to one of the 11 participating tribes (n = 4851) represented 16% of admissions for those who reported a tribal affiliation. RESULTS: Interviewees reported that prescription drugs, alcohol, and marijuana are primary community concerns, each presenting similar and distinct challenges. Additionally, community health is tied to access to resources, services, and culturally appropriate and effective interventions. Treatment data results were consistent with interviewee-reported substance use/abuse trends, with alcohol as the primary drug for 56% of AIAN adults compared to 46% of non-AIAN, and other opiates as second most common for AIAN adults in 2008 with 15% of admissions. LIMITATIONS: Findings are limited to those tribal communities/community members who agreed to participate. CONCLUSION: Analyses suggest that some diverse AIAN communities in WA State share similar substance use/abuse, treatment, and recovery trends and continuing needs. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Appropriate and effective research with AIAN communities requires respectful and flexible approaches.

Recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy associated with pheochromocytoma.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a patient with pheochromocytoma. METHODS: We present a case report, including clinical and laboratory data. In addition, the current relevant literature pertaining to pheochromocytoma and takotsubo syndrome is reviewed and summarized. RESULTS: In 2004, an 81-year-old woman with no history of cardiac disease presented with chest discomfort, and takotsubo syndrome was diagnosed. No emotional or physical stressors were identified at that time. Her left ventricular systolic function normalized during that hospitalization. In 2007, the patient was readmitted to the hospital with chest discomfort and ST-segment elevation. Cardiac catheterization demonstrated only minor nonobstructive coronary artery disease. She was again found to have takotsubo syndrome with a classic apical hypokinetic segment. Treatment with a heart failure regimen was initiated, and she was screened for pheochromocytoma as the precipitant for her recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy. A 24-hour urine collection showed minimally elevated normetanephrine excretion of 719 microg (reference range, 148 to 560) and vanillylmandelic acid of 8.3 mg (reference range, <8.0). The plasma normetanephrine level was 1.57 pg/mL (reference range, <0.9). Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left adrenal mass (2 cm by 1 cm). Ultimately, the patient underwent left adrenalectomy, and the pathology report was consistent with pheochromocytoma. She has been asymptomatic since then, and a repeated echocardiogram demonstrated normal left ventricular systolic function. CONCLUSION: In patients presenting with takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a precipitating factor, such as emotional or physical stress, can often be identified. In some patients (such as our current case), however, pheochromocytoma may be the underlying disease and should be considered.

The Community Pulling Together: A Tribal Community­University Partnership Project to Reduce Substance Abuse and Promote Good Health in a Reservation Tribal Community.

Alcohol and drug abuse are major areas of concern for many American Indian=Alaska Native communities. Research on these problems has often been less than successful, in part because many researchers are not sensitive to the culture and traditions of the tribes and communities with which they are working. They alsooften fail to incorporate tribal customs, traditions, and values into the interventions developed to deal with substance abuse. The authors describe the use of community-based participatory research and tribal participatory research approaches to develop a culturally sensitive substance abuse prevention program for Native youth. This project, The Community Pulling Together: Healing of the Canoe, is a collaboration between the Suquamish Tribe and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.