Catalysts for Change: Youth-Driven Insights in Opioid Harm Reduction [CND67]

This side event will highlight the voices and recommendations of YPWUO from around the world, based on research presented in the recent Youth RISE report "Catalysts for Change: Youth-Driven Insights in Opioid Harm Reduction", that has recently been published in March 2023. In the report, representatives from 8 countries (Canada, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Portugal, Uganda, the United States and Zimbabwe) shared their lived experiences as a YPWUO and harm reduction practitioners and reflect on their perspectives about shifting current local and international drug policies and support youth-tailored harm reduction services and initiatives. The research involved the collaboration of eight participants from Canada, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Portugal, Uganda, the United States, and Zimbabwe. Using a qualitative approach, themes emerged from online discussions. The research method included a collaborative approach that aims to promote community engagement during the research and to bridge gaps between research and practices, address social justice, and enable the active involvement of the participants throughout the research process. During the research, discussions highlighted challenges commonly faced by YPWUO such as access to safe supply, stigma, discrimination, lack of healthcare, housing issues, and policy-related challenges. The study emphasizes the importance of youth-tailored healthcare and harm reduction services, policy changes, community engagement, and comprehensive drug education. Harm reduction practitioners face challenges related to policy issues, harm reduction services, access to naloxone, trauma, and mental health. Recommendations include supportive-centered services, comprehensive drug education, community engagement, improved data collection, youth-tailored services, policy changes, sustainable funding for harm reduction organizations, and cover the basic needs of YPWUO. During this side event, the following topics will be explored: Youth RISE Working Group Member Alex Betsos will speak about the Canadian perspective on the overdose crisis and comment on local initiatives (i.e. safe supply). Youth RISE Executive Director, Ruby Lawlor, will present best practices for meaningful youth engagement in policy making and the results from the Youth Consultation organized by Youth RISE, UNODC, UNAIDS, UNODC, and INPUD. Youth RISE Rebeca Marques Rocha, High Level Communications and Advocacy Programme Lead, will present the research methodology and best practices to conduct such type of research meaningfully engaging and equally collaborating with stigmatized populations and community partners. One of the YPWUO author and contributing participant to Youth RISE’s report, Alfonso Poncho Chavez (PrevenCasa), will present the highlights of their country and their lived experience regarding opioids use, local drug policy and state of harm reduction, sharing the report’s recommendations for addressing the identified issues.