Primary Research Area: My research focuses on improving the alarming substance use related health disparities for American Indian/Alaska Natives while balancing the focus on cultural strengths and high rates of abstinence from substances. One avenue to improved outcomes has been to culturally adapt evidence-based treatments in partnership with AIAN communities. dependence. Recently, I have moved into implementation science to better understand successful dissemination of culturally centered evidence-based treatments.
Current Projects:
Culturally Centered Medication Treatment for OUD Implementation Facilitation for Primary Care and Addiction Treatment Programs Serving American Indian/Alaska Natives (NIDA CTN, protocol 0096, 1UG1DA049468), Multiple Principal Investigator or Co-lead
Leveraging CDC Opioid Overdose Surveillance Funding from the Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center to Create Tribal Data and Culturally Center Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (NIDA, R61DA049382), Multiple Principal Investigator
Adapting Motivational Interviewing in Partnership with Native Americans (NIAAA, pilot from
U01 AA014926) Principal Investigator
Culturally Appropriate Treatment for Native Americans, (NIAAA, K23AA014207), Principal Investigator
Current Staff:
Deanna Sprunk
Kyle Smith
Angel Vasquez, Ph.D.
Current Graduate Students
Violette Cloud
Hanna Hebden
Jalene Herron
Alexandra Hernandez-Vallant
Awards and Activities:
Science for Health of Indigenous Populations (SHIP) mentor award, 2021
Dora Goldstein Diversity in Sciences Award, Research Society on Alcoholism, 2020
Faculty of Color Award for Research by PNMGC 2011
Selected Research Publications:
Venner KL, Serier K, Sarafin R, et al. Culturally Tailored Evidence-based Substance Use Disorder Treatments are Efficacious with an American Indian Southwest Tribe: An Open-label Pilot-feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jul 15]. Addiction. 2020;10.1111/add.15191. doi:10.1111/add.15191
McCrady, B. S., Witkiewitz, K., Venner, K. L., & Fokas, K. (2020). Education and training in substance use disorders and addictions: The University of New Mexico integrated training model. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 14, 60-69. https://doi.org/10.1037/tep0000287
Tonigan, J. S., Venner, K. L. & Hirchak, K. (2020). Urban American Indian Adult Participation and Outcomes in Culturally Adapted and Mainstream Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings. Alcohol Treatment Quarterly, 38, 50-67, DOI: 10.1080/07347324.2019.1616512.
Venner, K. L., Hagler, K., Cloud, V., & Greenfield, B. L. (2019). Native Americans resolve alcohol use disorder: "Whatever it takes or all that it takes." Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 25, 350-358. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000241.
Serier, K. N., Venner, K. L., Sarafin, R. E. (2019). Evaluating the validity of DSM-5 Alcohol Use Disorder Criteria in a Sample of Treatment Seeking Native Americans. Journal of Addiction Medicine,13, 35-40.
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology