Written by Anthony Johnson, MS, CPH

GLITEC has compiled data on drug overdose-related mortality (deaths) among American Indian/Alaska Natives in the Bemidji Area (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Chicago), which is GLITEC’s service area.

Across the United States, drug overdose deaths among Native populations increased significantly from 2000 to 2022, with the first decline in the mortality rate beginning in 2023 and continuing 
into 2024.¹ Among the 11 Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC) service areas in the United States (excluding the Urban Indian Health Institute, which focuses on urban settings), GLITEC’s service area ranks third highest in overall all-drug mortality. The two TECs with higher rates are the Alaska TEC and the Rocky Mountain TEC (Montana and Wyoming).¹

All-Drug Overdose Age-Adjusted Mortality Rate per 100,000 by Tribal Epidemiology Center Region, 2018-2024

Alcohol-related mortality among Native populations remained relatively stable throughout much of the early 2000s, with an upward trend beginning in 2014 and peaking in 2021 before declining.¹ The GLITEC service area ranks eighth among TEC regions for alcohol-related mortality.¹

Alcohol-Related Age-Adjusted Mortality Rate per 100,000 by Tribal Epidemiology Center Region, 2018-2024

The rise in opioid use, psychostimulants, and commercial tobacco use within Tribal communities has contributed significantly to the elevated mortality rates observed among Native populations nationwide.² Additionally, the rural nature of many Tribal communities within the Bemidji Area may further contribute to increased mortality rates. Research has shown that overdose prevalence is higher in rural areas compared to urban areas.³

GLITEC’s Overdose Prevention Efforts

• Subaward Program: A central component of GLITEC’s overdose prevention efforts is supporting Tribal Nations in designing and implementing their own prevention programs in ways that align with their community priorities and cultural practices. GLITEC has offered a subaward program since 2023 that expands access to culturally grounded programs aimed at addressing health disparities in Tribal and urban Indian communities.
• Free Resources: GLITEC has an order form that Tribal Nations and urban Indian organizations can fill out to receive free overdose prevention resources, including educational materials, and training on naloxone (Narcan) administration.
• Annual Conference: One of GLITEC’s key initiatives in overdose prevention and awareness was hosting the Journeying Toward Wellness: Great Lakes Area Opioid Conference from 2022 to 2025. These gatherings brought together community members, subject-matter experts, and Tribal leadership to discuss substance use treatment, prevention strategies, and community-driven programming. This year, the event has been expanded to become the Great Lakes Area Tribal Public Health Conference. (View the article on page 10 for more information.)
  
  
  

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Sources 
1. Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER): Multiple Causes of Death, 2018-2024, Single Race database. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated 2024. Accessed March 6, 2026. http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10-expanded.html

2.    Soto C, West AE, Ramos GG, Unger JB. Substance and behavioral addictions among American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(5):2974. doi:10.3390/ijerph19052974

3.    Drug overdose in rural America as a public health issue. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated May 16, 2024. Accessed March 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/rural-health/php/public-health-strategy/public-health-considerations-for-drug-overdose-in-rural-america.html