Over the last decade, there has been an increase in co-design and co-production in health and social care research and practice. Critical analysis has identified both strengths and weaknesses of this approach; however, it remains generally described as being the right, or ethical, thing to do. Despite this recognition, very little research has adopted this method when working with people who use drugs (PWUD).

Research has much to learn from excellent co-production principles and practice from front line services and activists. So why does research find embracing co-design and co-production principles so hard? Meaningful co-design and co-production is rooted in the disability rights movement of the 1990s “nothing about us, without us”. It is the cornerstone of harm reduction that recognises the systemic inequalities which marginalise people and communities. It ensures all perspectives and skills are shared and is built on the principles of sharing power, responsibility and learned knowledge (NIHR, 2020),

This workshop aims to hold a conversation exploring meaningful co-production with a range of passionate experienced individuals from research, service provision and activism. The objectives are to listen to good practice and ideas, think about who is not in the room, and consider how to translate good practice into research.

Often, people who are the subjects of research have solutions and ideas but are excluded from decision making. This workshop, using Open Space Technology as a framework, will create the time and space to explore good practice around the themes of co-design/co-production with marginalised people and consider how this can be transferred to research.

The themes explored will be co-designed in the workshop but can be expected to be similar to below.
• What are some of the barriers to co-design with PWUD in research?
• What are areas of good practice from the frontline and activists that can be incorporated into research, especially in the field of harm reduction?
• How can we use some of this good practice in research to ensure we listen to some of the most marginalised voices, for example, women who use drugs?