The Helios Approach and Partnership with Poarch Creek Indians Highlighted by KFF Health News

On May 15, KFF Health News published an update on how tribal nations are using their opioid settlement funds in unique ways, integrating traditional healing practices and innovative approaches into their addiction treatment protocols. One of the tribes highlighted was the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, a member of The Helios Alliance and the anchor partner of the Alabama Opioid Abatement Model.  

Tribal Vice Chair Robbie McGhee spoke about how the Helios simulation platform will allow the tribe to best allocate its settlement dollars and prioritize among competing requests: “If we can have this model and we put the necessary funds to it and have the support, it’ll work for us. I just feel it in my gut.”

Tribal nations have been disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic, and they currently have the highest overdose rates of any demographic group in the U.S..

Despite this, tribal nations are only receiving a fraction of settlement dollars compared to other entities like state governments. This reinforces the need for careful spending of these limited dollars, as well as prioritization of interventions that have the greatest need for success. Corey Hinton, a lawyer and member of the Passamaquoddy tribe, observed that “these abatement funds are like a drop in the bucket…abatement is a cheap term when we’re talking about a crisis that is still engulfing and devastating communities.”