About AAIP + NAYI
The Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Native American Youth Influencers (NAYI) believe in the hope of a better tomorrow for Native communities.
About the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP)
In 1971, fourteen American Indian and Alaska Native physicians endeavored to improve the overall health of their communities and the Association of American Indian Physicians was born. AAIP pursues excellence in Native American health care, champions medical education and honors traditional healing principles. Programs directly address widely acknowledged disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native health.
AAIP is a federally recognized non-profit with 501(c)3 status and its membership is made up of American Indian and Alaska Native physicians licensed to practice medicine in the United States. AAIP also offers affiliate level membership opportunities for individuals who are not American Indian or Alaska Native physicians. Learn more at aaip.org.
About the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatment and support to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes. Learn more here.
About Native American Youth Influencers (NAYI) and Osage Partnership for Prevention (OPP)
Native American Youth Influencers (NAYI) — previously known as Osage Partnership for Prevention (OPP) — is a joint substance abuse prevention initiative between the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) and the Osage Nation. The initiative connects the long-standing expertise of AAIP and the resiliency of the Osage Nation to reduce underage drinking and non-medical use of prescription drugs among 1,500 to 2,000 Native youth in the Osage Tribal Jurisdiction.
In the last year, two of the most prestigious western medical journals, the Journal of the American Medical Association and the Lancet have given scientific validation to a fact Indian Country already knew, that American Indian youth and young adults (18-35 years) are dying prematurely at rates not matched by any other race or ethnic group. The reasons; chronic liver disease, suicide and drug overdose all caused or exacerbated by substance abuse. Learn more here.
The goal of the NAYI is to:
lessen Native behavioral health substance abuse disparities.
reduce underage drinking and non-medical use of prescription drugs among Native youth.
support Native youth who show an interest in medical or biomedical careers.
complete a rigorous evaluation of their program model of doctors and Native tribes working together.
Learn more about AAIP and NAYI here.