Since 2016, approximately 1,200 youth in British Columbia (BC) between the ages of 15 and 24 have died from opioid-related overdoses. This has left families and communities to mourn the loss of their loved ones.
These overdose deaths can be avoided by getting youth the help they need, as early as possible. However, most of the currently available help has focused on adults, under the assumption that what works for adults will also work for youth. Unfortunately, research in BC has recently found that this is not the case. Instead, existing options for help do not meet youths’ opioid treatment needs.
The main goal of this study is to determine how to best help youth who use opioids. To meet this objective, we will engage youth, parents/caregivers and service providers in a research study. This study will explore priorities for opioid use treatment delivery. It will also determine how to best define the benefits of opioid use treatment for youth.
The findings of this study will help service providers and policy makers to deliver opioid treatments in a way that will better meet youths’ unique needs. The findings will also help future researchers to make sure that they are studying what matters most to youth.
End of Award Report – June 2025
Results
My multi-methods research has generated the following key findings related to youth-centred approaches to reducing the harms of non-medical opioid use:
(1) Youths’ substance use service needs significantly increased during the pandemic;
(2) The diagnostic incidence of mental and substance use disorders has increased among youth in BC, particularly among females;
(3) Youth using non-medical prescription opioids in BC have complex health and social care needs, which may be addressed by comprehensive care models, like Integrated Youth Services;
(4) Opioid agonist treatment remains an acceptable and effective evidence-based intervention for youth using non-medical opioids; however, a developmentally-appropriate approach is needed to improve youths’ engagement with this treatment;
(5) A developmentally-appropriate and youth-centred model of care for opioid agonist treatment delivery includes four foundational pillars: (1) trusting and collaborative relationships; (2) adaptable and flexible services; (3) low barrier services; and (4) holistic services.
Impact
My research has been shared with several provincial institutions and organizations who lead development and implementation of programs and policies for youth substance use health in BC, including Foundry, BC Children’s Hospital, the BC Centre for Disease Control, and the BC Ministry of Health, leading to the identification of several priority areas, including early intervention for substance use, youth overdose research and prevention, and expansion of opioid agonist treatment. My research has culminated in a draft youth-centred model of care for opioid agonist treatment that will be validated and implemented across the network of 17 community-based Foundry centres in BC. My research is informing the development of a comprehensive substance use service strategy across the network of 17 community-based Foundry centres in BC. My research has provided opportunities for training and capacity building among youth (n=4) with lived/living substance use experience and several undergraduate (n=1) and graduate students (n=7).
Potential Influence
My research has the potential to improve the quality of care for youth substance use and youths’ substance use health outcomes. My research has identified promising practices for earlier identification and intervention of youth substance use, developing a youth-centred model of care for delivering and implementing opioid agonist treatment, and informing directions for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of these practices.
Next Steps
My five-year research vision is to lead a multi-methods program of research focused on the individual, community, and systems-level impacts of Integrated Youth Services. This research will be hosted at the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) where I will hold the position of Assistant Professor (Partner), in collaboration with Foundry (BC’s Integrated Youth Service initiative). My research will use integrated knowledge translation, qualitative methods, and quantitative methods to study these impacts. This program of research offers substantial training opportunities in health services research and youth mental health and substance use for graduate students and postgraduate fellows/trainees.