The Indigenous Community is Leading Addiction Recovery in Cortez

Addiction treatment and recovery initiatives in the Cortez area don’t adequately help all who are struggling. It’s a particular problem for members of the indigenous community, who expressed frustration that they often can’t share their perspective in outpatient treatment programs and in daily recovery meetings. In response, a Native American woman who works with the Southwestern Colorado Area Health Education Center (SWCAHEC) spearheaded a program in which native and non-native community members can access an indigenous-led treatment modality—one not exclusively based on Western medicine. LOR helped with funding training for new staff and by helping SWCAHEC purchase supplies and technology they’ll need to start the pilot program.