Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG)
The LEAG was established to integrate the perspectives of individuals with lived experience of substance use into the operations of the Ontario Opioid Drug Observatory (OODO). Comprising members from across the province, the LEAG plays a crucial role in shaping OODO’s research priorities and initiatives. Members of the LEAG meet bi-monthly to discuss current projects, participate as study team members on projects of interest, and sit on the OODO Steering Committee.
Members of the LEAG:
- Ensure the relevance of opioid-related research from a person with lived experience perspective.
- Provide feedback on initial research findings and their potential impact on persons with lived experience.
- Advise on dissemination strategies for opioid-related research through personal and professional networks.
Want to get involved in the LEAG?
Please contact Dana Shearer at Dana.Shearer@unityhealth.to.
Projects
Beyond involvement of the LEAG in the OODO’s work, we also strive to create platforms for people who use drugs to share their experiences in creative ways. Below we highlight two such initiatives supported by OODO:
Town Hall on Hospital Experiences Among People Who Use Drugs
The ODPRN Citizens’ Panel launched an initiative to create a platform for meaningful conversation between citizens of Ontario to discuss drug policy topics of interest.
The ODPRN Town Hall on hospital experiences among people who use drugs was held in November 2023 as part of a series of Town Halls on various topics related to drug policy in Ontario. People who use drugs shared stories and raised questions on accessing hospital care in Ontario, aiming to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement in the healthcare system to enhance the experiences and health outcomes of people who use drugs when accessing hospital-based care.
The Opioid Chapters: A Joint ODPRN and Healthy Debate Project
The Opioid Chapters features 11 stories of people whose lives have been profoundly affected by opioids. A joint project of the ODPRN and the website Healthy Debate, this multimedia online series features powerful first-person narratives from people who take opioids for chronic pain, those with an opioid use disorder, and providers who work with both.
Released September 6, 2018.
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