The Cedar Project: Preparing for culturally-safe, trauma informed COVID-19 response among young Indigenous people who use drugs in Prince George and Vancouver, BC

Indigenous people who use drugs in BC are facing two public health emergencies: COVID-19 and the ongoing overdose crisis. One may create additional risk for the other. On one hand, substance use may increase COVID-19 risk through sharing smoking/injection equipment; creating barriers to physical distancing; and housing instability. On the other hand, COVID-19 and its response may increase overdose risk due to rollback of harm reduction services, banning of guests in social housing, and forcible closure of encampments - pushing people to use drugs alone. Pandemic fears and restrictions may also impact mental wellbeing. Our study assesses the impact of COVID-19 and the pandemic response, as well as its domino effects, among Indigenous people who use drugs. We will also adapt, implement, and determine the feasibility of offering a bundle of strengths-based, wraparound virtual supports using an existing software and weekly text messaging check-ins with trusted case managers. The study will inform a culturally-safe, trauma-informed COVID-19 response among Indigenous people who use drugs.