Grant: CG: Moving Upstream - Structural Determinants of Health - Substance Use in Youth

This research is focused on addressing the serious and rising problem of overdose among youth between the ages of 10 and 24. This is an urgent issue in Canada, where overdose is now one of the leading causes of death among youth, with certain minority groups such as Indigenous, racialized, 2S/LGBTQ+, and homeless youth especially at risk. Our aim in this one-year study is to better understand the "upstream" or "big picture" societal and structural factors that contribute to, and can protect against, overdose in youth. By looking at existing policies from across the country and hearing directly from diverse youth involved in overdose prevention, we will explore what's missing in current efforts and identify what can be done to better prevent youth overdose. The study will use a mixed approach, combining a critical review of existing policies with a research method called photovoice. For this, we will recruit 25 youth engaged in overdose prevention advocacy in British Columbia and ask them to share their experiences and ideas through in-depth interviews and a participatory photography exercise. These activities will be guided by two youth advisory committees, to help ensure that youth voices and expertise are central to the study processes and eventual findings and recommendations. The wider study team will include health researchers and drug policy experts committed to addressing the root drivers of overdose among youth, alongside inequities that make minority youth more at risk for substance use and overdose. Our work together will culminate in a community Summit to creatively showcase the study findings with youth and other decision-makers, thus making sure that youth perspectives are heard and acted upon in efforts to get upstream of youth overdose. With this Summit and other activities such as academic publications and presentations, this research will guide policy actions to better address youth overdose and its root causes.