As the opioid crisis pulses through the nation, Bering Strait Region villages deeply consider what can be done to protect the communities from the damage caused by these deadly drugs. To support communities through this crisis, Kawerak Wellness established the Bering Strait Opioid Response Initiative in July 2025. As a start to their community-centric approach, the Wellness team and Northwest Planning, LLC conducted a confidential region-wide survey in the fall of 2025. As a follow up to the survey, they hosted community conversations with focus groups in each of the regional communities. Both tools will enable the team to get a solid understanding of the unique needs, cultures, and strengths of each community – an essential piece to creating effective response strategies.
Wellness Department Director Kimberly Ayek said she greatly appreciated and valued the willingness of community members to participate. “There is a strong desire across communities to address opioid misuse, but it has to be grounded in trust, relationships, and approaches that make sense,” she said.
Confidentiality was of the utmost importance to organizers. The online surveys were anonymous and the focus groups were hosted in a private space in order for participants to feel safe and heard. Ayek said providing a confidential space was an important part of the process, helping participants to feel safe sharing personal experiences.
“That openness is so important when talking about something as sensitive as opioid misuse, and it allows for more meaningful conversation,” Ayek shared.
Kawerak staff genuinely appreciate the insights and stories shared by participants which will help to guide the future of this project. Understanding community experiences with opioids is essential to create a plan that actually works for the communities. Ayek said the next steps are to take the information they’ve gathered and to turn it into action.
Kawerak Wellness and Northwest Planning, LLC are developing a strategic plan for the opioid response project, which will help guide the grant funded activities for the upcoming three years. The plan will focus on prevention of opioid overdose among youth and young adults. Some goals include expanding access to harm reduction resources and overdose reversal medications while strengthening pathways to treatment and recovery support services through collaboration with regional partners.
Funding for this project was provided through Kawerak, thanks to a grant from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). To learn more about Kawerak Wellness, visit kawerak.org/wellness.
