This paper describes how community-based participatory research (CBPR) and co-design methods were integrated to improve youth opioid use treatments and services in Canada. National, provincial, and community partnerships were established to recruit service users (youth and caregivers) and service providers to co-design prototypes. Co-design methods, including working group meetings, discussions, interviews, and feedback grids, facilitated understanding of needs and experiences, resulting in community-specific innovations. Challenges included the time commitment and resources needed for co-design, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Two case studies—a caregiver handbook and a virtual OAT guide—illustrate the process and demonstrate how these methods can be applied to co-develop health service innovations for youth.

Roxanne Turuba, Christina Katan, Kirsten Marchand, Chantal Brasset, Alayna Ewert, Corinne Tallon, Jill Fairbank, Steve Mathias, Skye Barbic, Julia Langton