Hello MLaplante
As far as I know, the CAMH Strengthening Your Voice is the first manual of it's kind for 'lived experience speakers' in general.....
You pose some really good questions and I am happy that a youth specific policies and procedure for this is being attempted.
1) As far as #1, that is an 'icky' situation full of dynamics. A drug user's advocacy would probably not want this youth 'faulted' by 'losing his identity' as a speaker, and of course the harm reduction approach would have to be to 'meet that person where they are at' ...BUT...being a lived experience (adult) speaker myself, who is in substance free recovery (17yrs), one would not want someone who is 'using' to continue speaking as if they were substance free.
Too many mixed messages and that puts that youth at risk for being targeted by some audiences as 'not credible'...
I would suggest supporting the youth if this is a relapse and encouraging them to speak about this 'slip' when they are back to being drug free.
The most important question to me would be: Did the pressure of speaking and the expectations contribute to the 'relapse'??
2) I am wondering if a youth to youth harm reduction outreach group in Halton called POSSE could help with you formulating the graduation part. POSSE youth are not 'speakers' per sa, so how they train and graduate their youth would not be applicable in the strictest sense but there may be something in their 'framework' of 20 weeks extensive training for youth to youth out reach-harm reduction-human rights' etc and then the youth thru processes and experience are 'graduated' to mentoring and training the newer youth coming in etc. Plus we have an adult collaborative BUT the youth have equal voice and equal vote on input into trainings etc....
3) As above, I don't know of any speaker curriculum for lived experience other than the new CAMH-Strengthening Your Voice ....
Once again I am wondering if other resources like peer support training framework could be adapted to be 'speaker' specific...
Here is the POSSE info if you want: (Just go to the training section) http://www.posseproject.ca/
Our Philosopy and Value Statement: All youth have an inherent right to equality, dignity, safety, respect and their basic human rights regardless of age, race, class, gender, sexual orientation or any other distinguishing characteristics
For more information, download the new POSSE Manual “A Guide to Growing POSSE“ (PDF) (I will attache the POSSE YOUTH manual as well...it is 126 pages but lots on training , evaluation that possibly you could adapt)
Hope maybe some of this helps.
I know it doesn't give you exact answers but it at least identifies that 'lived experience speakers' is an area that is growing and we need to start developing manuals, guides, policies, procedures around that to keep all involved 'safe'.