The collateral effects of COVID-19 public health policies: Perspectives of people who use opioids and those closest to them using a patient-oriented research approach

The proposed policy research project brings together researchers, policy makers, and knowledge users with lived experience to retrospectively analyze the effects of COVID-19 pandemic public health measures from the perspective of people who use opioids (PWUO), service providers, and families to inform future policy options during the current and future public health emergency responses. The purpose of this study is to analyze public health policies and develop public health emergency response policy options to strengthen pandemic preparedness and responses and mitigate other impacts, such as health system inequity and disparity. Using best practices in patient-oriented research and co-design in policy research, the project team will ensure future policy options are relevant to those who are most impacted by them. This project will advance new and existing partnerships to generate and integrate research findings into public health policy recommendations to inform value-based healthcare practices more broadly.