Scoping Review on Substance Use Service Delivery Models for Youth
University of British Columbia (UBC) - Faculty of Medicine
Applied + Community Research
The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine is a leading academic institution committed to advancing health equity and improving care through research, education, and innovation.
Within the Faculty, Dr. Skye Barbic leads a research program focused on improving mental health and substance use outcomes for youth. As Director of Research for a province-wide primary health initiative in British Columbia, her work emphasizes patient-centered assessment and evidence-based care tailored to the specific needs of young people. Dr. Barbic’s research program enhances the role of youth in mental health and substance use research, measures and responds to the health needs of young people, and develops accessible, integrated treatments, including employment supports, that promote recovery and wellbeing.
Challenge
Youth substance use is complex and multifaceted, often intersecting with mental health, trauma, and social determinants of health. While numerous programs and service models exist across Canada, there is limited synthesis of which approaches are most effective in meeting the developmental and social needs of young people.
Dr. Barbic’s research team sought to identify best practices and guiding principles for youth substance use service delivery, covering effective settings, models of care, and clinical frameworks, to inform future research, evaluation, and system design within its provincial network.
Solution
Changemark was engaged to conduct a comprehensive scoping review to map existing evidence, identify gaps, and highlight emerging practices in youth substance use service delivery.
The project aimed to bridge research and practice by consolidating learnings from both academic and community-based sources to guide the design of youth-focused substance use programs.
The project included:
Research Design + Methodology
Co-development of a scoping review protocol grounded in Cochrane and PRISMA-ScR guidelines to ensure methodological transparency and rigor
Execution of a comprehensive search strategy across six major academic databases and grey literature sources to capture both formal and community-driven innovations
Integration of evidence synthesis methods to summarize study characteristics, intervention models, and service settings
Knowledge Synthesis + Application
Creation of detailed evidence tables and visual summaries mapping the global landscape of youth-focused substance use service delivery
Development of a narrative synthesis outlining best practices, frameworks, and critical gaps in current approaches
Identification of key service elements such as integrated, low-barrier models, peer and family involvement, and trauma-informed, culturally safe practices
Production of a peer-reviewed scoping review publication to advance the broader evidence base on youth substance use care
Results
Changemark delivered a methodologically robust, policy-relevant scoping review that provided the Dr. Barbic’s research team with a clear understanding of the evidence landscape for youth substance use services.
Impact Highlights to Date:
Consolidated Canadian and international research to inform system-level planning and service design
Identified guiding principles for effective, youth-centered substance use care
Highlighted research gaps and innovation opportunities to support future program development
Contributed to the global literature through a published peer-reviewed scoping review
By combining systematic review methods with practical interpretation, Changemark delivered a rigorous yet accessible evidence product to guide policy, programming, and innovation across Foundry’s network.
Interested in Learning More?
Let’s talk about how we can help you conduct rigorous literature and scoping reviews to inform program innovation and design.
