Exploring the lived experiences of Indigenous Australians within the context of alcohol and other drugs treatment services: A scoping review.

ISSUES: Substance use among Indigenous peoples has been extensively researched in the Australian context. However, syntheses of existing research focused on Indigenous Australian peoples' experiences of alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment are limited. This review sought to fill this gap. APPROACH: A scoping review using three databases, and the Google search engine, examined empirical and grey literature relating to Indigenous Australian peoples' lived experiences of accessing and undergoing AOD treatment. The review was not restricted to intervention type, treatment setting, substance, or individual characteristics (e.g., age or gender). The experiences of staff of Indigenous Australian service providers were excluded. KEY FINDINGS: Twenty-seven articles were reviewed, with most research (n = 12) conducted in New South Wales. Our secondary analysis of existing research found three themes: the role of culture, the value of holistic strength-based services, and the influence of organisational components for Indigenous Australian service users in AOD treatment settings. IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSION: Despite diversity of experiences, our review highlights the importance of integrating culture and facilitating holistic strength-based approaches to AOD treatment for Indigenous Australian peoples. While our review is limited by the findings and biases contained within the literature reviewed, the paucity of literature relating to the experiences of Indigenous Australian peoples within AOD treatment settings warrants further attention.

Community-based models of alcohol and other drug support for First Nations peoples in Australia: A systematic review.

ISSUES: The transgenerational impacts of colonisation-inclusive of dispossession, intergenerational trauma, racism, social and economic exclusion and marginalisation-places First Nations peoples in Australia at significant risk of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and its associated harms. However, knowledge and evidence supporting community-based AOD treatment for First Nations adults is limited. Therefore, this review aimed to examine the impact and acceptability of community-based models of AOD support for First Nations adults in Australia. APPROACH: A systematic search of the empirical literature from the past 20 years was conducted. KEY FINDINGS: Seventeen studies were included. Nine studies evaluated the program's impact on substance use and 10 studies assessed program acceptability (two studies evaluated both). Only three out of nine studies yielded a statistically significant reduction in substance use. Acceptable components included cultural safety, First Nations AOD workers, inclusion of family and kin, outreach and group support. Areas for improvement included greater focus on holistic wrap-around psychosocial support, increased local community participation and engagement, funding and breaking down silos. IMPLICATIONS: Culturally safe, holistic and integrated AOD outreach support led by First Nations peoples and organisations that involves local community members may support First Nations peoples experiencing AOD concerns. These findings may inform the (re)design and (re)development of community-based AOD services for First Nations peoples. CONCLUSION: There is a limited evidence-base for community-based AOD programs for First Nations peoples. First Nations-led research that is controlled by and co-produced with First Nations peoples is necessary to extend our understanding of community-based programs within First Nations communities.