Grant: Op. Gr. Adv. 2S_LGBTQI+ Heal. Thr. Res. - Advancing 2S/LGBTQI+ Health

Gender-based discrimination and violence contribute to higher rates of psychoactive drug use among Two-Spirit, transgender, and nonbinary (TTNB) young people. In using the term "psychoactive drugs," we refer to regulated and unregulated substances such as alcohol, cannabis, and opioids, as well as prescribed mental health medications, including for treatment of depression and anxiety. Psychoactive drugs affect how the brain works and can cause changes in mood, thoughts, and behaviour. While we know that TTNB young people are more likely to use psychoactive drugs, we know less about their relationships and support needs with psychoactive drug use, including the benefits and challenges these drugs may bring over time, as youth age and navigate changes in their life and community. Our research team will use a method called photovoice to explore - over four years - how psychoactive drugs feature in the lives and health of 40 TTNB young people in British Columbia. Youth will take photographs to represent their evolving relationships with psychoactive drug use, then discuss these photographs at annual Zoom interviews, taking new photographs each year of the study. The research will be guided by an active advisory committee comprised of TTNB young people who use (or used) psychoactive drugs, to help ensure that youth voices and expertise are engaged in the research design. Together, we will analyze the visual and text data to develop recommendations to improve community supports, healthcare, and policy for TTNB young people who use psychoactive drugs. The project will involve yearly "Gatherings" with photography exhibits that bring together researchers, community organizations, and TTNB youth for knowledge sharing about the research and ways to action what we learn together. The goal of this work is to build collective capacity to address TTNB young people's support needs with substance use and mental health medication, to improve health outcomes for this group.