Table 2 Service providers’ ideas for improving youth opioid use services/treatments by overarching needs theme
Ideas themesa | Community | Select representative idea(s)b |
|---|---|---|
Need theme: respond to youth in a timely and appropriate manner (n = 79) | ||
1. Expand service locations throughout communities and outreach-based services (n = 13) | All communities | “Multiple hubs throughout the community where kids can access most types of treatment” |
2. Engage youth in service planning and monitoring (n = 12) | All communities | “Ask youth what services they would like to see” |
3. Programs that create or maintain positive relationships in youths’ lives (n = 11) | Victoria | “Allow friends to go to treatment together” |
4. Create programs that incorporate recreational activities for youth (n = 10) | Victoria | “Groups for youth using opioids that will take them to do different activities and help them discover a hobby or passion” |
5. Integrate diverse staff and experiences into service delivery (n = 10) | Victoria | “Value lived experience” “Provide accessibility and accommodations for staff” |
6. Create programs that develop or maintain cultural connection (n = 9) | Victoria | “Connection to land” “Cross cultural services (not a one size fit)” |
7. Create programs and spaces that are specific to youth and diverse youth (n = 7) | Victoria; Vancouver | “Youth specific services whenever possible, e.g., ‘sobering centre’, OAT, stabilization, etc.” “Identity-based groups within services, e.g., queerabilities” |
8. Develop interventions for youth using stimulants (n = 7) | Vancouver | “Move towards RCT for stimulant assisted treatment” |
Need theme: improve intra-organizational supports and inter-organizational collaboration (n = 66) | ||
1. Inter-organizational activities (e.g., newsletters, social networking sites, tours) or events (e.g., conferences) to learn about what other agencies/providers offer (n = 39) | All communities | “Quarterly meeting for all youth services in Prince George—a big conference” “Weekly newsletter via email that discusses different services” |
2. Activities to build up service provider competencies (n = 17) | All communities | “Gather collective wisdom through community of practice” |
3. Procedures that enable inter-organizational collaboration (n = 10) | All communities | “Build reciprocal and positive relationships with other organizations” |
Need theme: system-level innovation (n = 64) | ||
1. Develop infrastructure to increase local service/treatment capacity (n = 30) | Victoria; Vancouver | “Designate a number of units in buildings as affordable youth units” “Fund grassroots community initiatives” |
2. Create clearer pathways into and between services/treatments (n = 14) | Victoria; Vancouver | “One information source for treatment information and referrals” “Different levels of treatment in one place, e.g., day program, residential, counseling, groups” |
3. Reduce unnecessary system-related barriers to access services/treatments (n = 14) | Prince George; Victoria | “Shared consent forms for continuity of care” “Simple universal referral forms with minimal information required” |
4. Develop youth-specific standards (n = 6) | Vancouver | “Develop indicators of success from a social lens and beyond urine drug screens and emergency department visits” |