Grant: Project Grant

Opioid-related harms are a public health crisis in Canada, disproportionately impacting First Nation Peoples and communities. In 2023, research co-led by the Chiefs of Ontario (COO) and the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN) underscored the need to support First Nation communities in addressing opioid toxicity rates, which were 10 times higher than those of non-First Nation Peoples, particularly among those living outside of community. While barriers such as stigma, systemic inequities, and limited access to culturally safe services persist, there is growing emphasis on empowering community-driven initiatives to improve access to opioid agonist treatment and residential programs by integrating Indigenous-led approaches that honour Indigenous knowledge and healing practices. We propose a body of research using a strengths-based, community-driven approach to better understand evolving patterns of opioid-related harms, access to treatment for opioid use disorder and healthcare system experiences among First Nation Peoples. Through building on strong existing collaborations between the COO, ODPRN, and ICES, we will generate respectful, timely, and highly relevant evidence that supports First Nations-led decision-making and informs culturally relevant opioid-related policies to improve the health of First Nation Peoples. This research will be guided by the First Nations Circle of Lived Experience Advisory Committee and the Opioid Community Steering Committee, comprised of First Nation community members who will advise on all phases of the research to ensure alignment with the priorities of First Nation communities and people with lived expertise of opioid use. Further, our integrated knowledge translation approach to research conduct and dissemination will involve extensive community engagement, direct liaisons between the research team and communities, and broad dissemination of findings tailored to various stakeholders at the community and policy-level.