Partnered health system innovation for people who use drugs

“Health System Innovation for People Who Use Drugs (PWUD)” is an implementation project that will help translate research into co-designed supports. This project is a collaboration between individuals with lived and living experience of currently illegal (i.e., non-alcohol, non-tobacco, non-cannabis) drug use and health system partners in Edmonton, AB – Boyle Street Community Services (BSCS) and the Inner City Health and Wellness Program (ICHWP). In 2023, BSCS and ICHWP collaborated to conduct a PWUD-administered survey of structurally vulnerable PWUD in central Edmonton. The survey data provides an assessment of PWUD health and social service needs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and related health and social syndemics (e.g. houselessness, drug poisoning). Now what is needed is a process that aids the partners to co-design and prioritize implementation innovations. The Mitacs Elevate Fellowship will support Renée McBeth to coordinate a community-based research team in partnership with the Streetworks harm reduction program at BSCS. The research team will document PWUD-voiced priorities for improving available services and supports using sense-making methods (qualitative micro-narratives). Further, the team will host roundtables to develop recommendations from Indigenous PWUD and knowledge keepers with experience partnering with the health system. At each stage, we will identify community assets and strengths that can be mobilized to implement the proposed supports. The project will drive health system innovation and improve health by assisting the partner organizations and other health system actors to safely support PWUD partners and co-develop effective and inclusive responses to the opioid poisoning crisis.

Faculty Supervisor:

Ginetta Salvalaggio

Student:

Partner:

Boyle Street Community Services

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Alberta

Program: