Elaine Hyshka
Datos Biográficos
| ID | 329100 |
|---|---|
| NOMBRE | Elaine Hyshka |
| NOMBRES | Elaine |
| APELLIDO | Hyshka |
| FIRMA | HYSHKA E |
| AFILIACIONES | University of Alberta |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5785-8890 |
| VERIFICADO | Sí |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 52 |
| TOTAL DE CITAS | 25 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 52 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMER AÑO DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2009 |
| AÑO MÁS RECIENTE DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2026 |
| ÍNDICE H | 2 |
Understanding the Link Between Housing and Drug Use
BACKGROUND: This article investigates the potential links between housing instability and unregulated drug use at the intersection of the housing affordability crisis, drug poisoning emergency, and the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: = 406, April-September 2023). This study examines the associations between housing instability, the severity of individual drug use patterns, as measured through the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) score, …
Navigating the CBD
Framing decriminalization
These findings highlight critical gaps in government communication and the dominance of misrepresentative media framing in shaping public attitudes. Effective drug policy requires not only legislative change but also proactive, coordinated, and sustained public education strategies to counter misinformation, reduce stigma, and build lasting support
A scoping review and concept analysis to inform Canada’s safe(r) opioid supply research agenda
Safe(r) supply encompasses prescribed opioid alternatives interventions (safer supply) and non-medicalized (safe supply) approaches with shared antecedents but distinct attributes and consequences. This study highlights the need to better define and standardize the parameters of safer supply approaches, including population, dosing, and intended objectives, to enable a more precise assessment of their potential benefits and risks. This nuanced un…
Investigating public health unit engagement in secondary schools and student substance use over time
Including Families in a Response to the Unregulated Toxic Drug Crisis
The unregulated toxic drug crisis continues to be an urgent health issue in North America. Many families of people who use drugs have been significantly impacted by this issue. In addition to the thousands of North Americans who have been bereaved by drug mortality, many families are providing unpaid care to bridge gaps in services while navigating the grief and stress associated with caring for a loved one amidst a heavily politicized and rapidl…
Defining a public health approach to substance use
Our coherent and comprehensive framework incorporates international literature and is informed by contemporary values and goals with the aim of promoting a consensus understanding of this critical practice area. This framework can guide efforts to design, implement, and evaluate public health interventions that maximize benefits and mitigate harm associated with psychoactive substances
Experiences of stigmatization among people who use drugs in the initial year of British Columbia's drug decriminalization policy
While decriminalization has the potential to reduce stigma and increase comfort in accessing critical harm reduction and substance use treatment services among people who use drugs, achieving these outcomes requires additional efforts. Public awareness campaigns, targeted anti-stigma education, and broader systemic changes were suggested by participants as essential to address stigmatization in BC. Strengthening these areas could enhance access t…
Characteristics of supervised injection site clients and factors associated with requiring overdose intervention, Montreal, Canada, 2018–2022
Across four Montréal SIS, site visits with an overdose requiring intervention were associated with transgender identity, younger age, stable housing, intending to inject fentanyl, injecting less frequently than daily, injecting for either more than five years or less than a year, single site attendance, and injecting most often in a public place. Montréal SIS serve a diverse clientele who inject drugs, with differing risks of onsite overdose
Perceptions and experiences with police among people who use drugs in the initial year of British Columbia's decriminalization of illegal drugs policy
Research Summary On January 31, 2023, British Columbia (BC) launched a 3‐year pilot initiative decriminalizing the possession of up to 2.5 g of select illegal drugs. The policy aims to reduce stigma, address racial disparities in drug law enforcement, and improve police relations with people who use drugs (PWUD). As part of a national evaluation, we conducted qualitative interviews with 100 PWUD who reported using drugs at least three times a wee…
Responding to the toxic drug crisis
Responding to drug-related harm among South Asian populations in Canada
Expanding supervised consumption services in rural Canada
Bereaved mothers’ media coverage and public support for harm reduction in Canada
Background Mothers whose child’s death is related to substance use have emerged as prominent and outspoken critics of Canadian drug policy in the news media. We examined the extent to which, and who among, the general public has seen or heard mothers bereaved by substance use in the media; predicted factors associated with exposure to such media; and explored associations with public acceptance of harm reduction.Methods We analyzed data from a 20…
Engaging families and parent advocates in research on substance use and drug policy reform
Canada is in the midst of a public health emergency in drug poisoning (overdose) deaths. In this context parents, and especially mothers, of those who have died from drug poisoning have mobilised to advocate for urgent responses and drug policy reforms. To document this emerging women‐led advocacy, we initiated a community‐academic research partnership with three parent groups representing families in Canada bereaved by drug‐related deaths. In th…
The decriminalization of illicit drugs in British Columbia
This evaluation will draw on implementation science research practices to evaluate and understand the full impacts of this novel drug policy experiment. Results will be widely disseminated through manuscripts, reports, presentations, and infographics, which will be adapted and tailored for specific audiences. The protocol identifies several anticipated challenges and limitations. This evaluation's evidence-based findings will be poised to offer p…
Benzodiazepine use in medical cannabis authorization adult patients from 2013 to 2021
Medical cannabis authorization had little to no effect on benzodiazepine usage among patients prescribed regular benzodiazepine treatment in Alberta, Canada. • Further clinical research is needed to investigate the potential impact of medical cannabis as an alternative to benzodiazepine medication
Substance use as a public health issue
Safer supply and political interference in medical practice
Across much of Canada, opioid poisoning deaths have been increasing due to a toxic, contaminated, and unpredictable drug supply. Multiple prescribed safer supply pilot projects are being implemented and evaluated in an attempt to save lives. In the province of Alberta, however, new regulations introduced in 2022 significantly constrain safer supply prescribing by banning the prescription, dispensing, and administration of safer supply outside of …
The need for an expanded, evidence-based public health response to the overdose crisis and the toxic drug supply in Canada
An action-oriented public health framework to reduce financial strain and promote financial wellbeing in high-income countries
The Framework reveals the intersectionality of root causes and consequences of financial strain and poor financial wellbeing, while also reinforcing the need for tailored actions to promote socioeconomic and health equity for all people. The dynamic, systemic interplay of the entry points illustrated in the Framework suggest opportunities for multi-sectoral, collaborative action across government and organizations towards systems change and the p…
Challenges of implementing safer supply programs in Canada during the Covid-19 pandemic
Safer supply pilot programs in Canada face multiple inner and outer implementation challenges. Given the potential role of safer supply programs in addressing the drug toxicity crisis in Canada and the possibility of future scale-up, services should be well-supported during their implementation phases. Refining service provision within safer supply programs based on the feedback and experiences of clients and program administrators is warranted, …
Investigating the association between income inequality in youth and deaths of despair in Canada
BACKGROUND: Deaths due to suicide, drug overdose and alcohol-related liver disease, collectively known as 'deaths of despair', have been markedly increasing since the early 2000s and are especially prominent in young Canadians. Income inequality has been linked to this rise in deaths of despair; however, this association has not yet been examined in a Canadian context, nor at the individual level or in youth. The study objective was to examine th…
Overpoliced and Underrepresented
Historically, overpolicing of some racialized and Indigenous groups in Canada has resulted in unequal application of drug laws contributing to disproportionate rates of charges and convictions in these populations. Criminal records severely and negatively impact an individual’s life and can perpetuate cycles of poverty and socioeconomic disadvantage. On October 17, 2018, Canada legalized cannabis production, distribution, sale, and possession for…
Public support for safer supply programs
Investigating the association between income inequality in youth and deaths of despair in Canada
BACKGROUND: Deaths due to suicide, drug overdose and alcohol-related liver disease, collectively known as 'deaths of despair', have been markedly increasing since the early 2000s and are especially prominent in young Canadians. Income inequality has been linked to this rise in deaths of despair; however, this association has not yet been examined in a Canadian context, nor at the individual level or in youth. The study objective was to examine th…
Turning failure into success
Cannabis policy in Canada is a puzzling affair. Since the 1960s and as recently as 2006, several policy windows have opened promising evidence-based cannabis law reform only to be slammed shut before achieving meaningful change. This ‘saga of promise, hesitation, and retreat’ has motivated Canadian cannabis researchers to investigate the reasons behind this policy inertia. These single-jurisdiction analyses have resulted in interesting yet necess…
Overpoliced and Underrepresented
Historically, overpolicing of some racialized and Indigenous groups in Canada has resulted in unequal application of drug laws contributing to disproportionate rates of charges and convictions in these populations. Criminal records severely and negatively impact an individual’s life and can perpetuate cycles of poverty and socioeconomic disadvantage. On October 17, 2018, Canada legalized cannabis production, distribution, sale, and possession for…
Flawed reports can harm
Supervised consumption services have been scaled up within Canada and internationally as an ethical imperative in the context of a public health emergency. A large body of peer-reviewed evidence demonstrates that these services prevent poisoning deaths, reduce infectious disease transmission risk behaviour, and facilitate clients' connections to other health and social services. In 2019, the Alberta government commissioned a review of the socioec…
A comparison of the Covid-19 response for urban underserved patients experiencing healthcare transitions in three Canadian cities
The pandemic response has exposed inequities for urban underserved populations experiencing care transitions; however, it has also exposed system strengths and opportunities for improvement to inform future policy direction
Cannabis legalization in the provinces and territories
A common public health-oriented policy framework for cannabis, alcohol and tobacco in Canada
Canada Moving Backwards on Illegal Drugs
Expanding supervised consumption services in rural Canada
The need for an expanded, evidence-based public health response to the overdose crisis and the toxic drug supply in Canada
Public support for safer supply programs
It's a Bit of a Double-Edged Sword
North America's overdose crisis is an urgent public health issue that has resulted in thousands of deaths. As the crisis began to take hold across Canada in 2016, bereaved parents, mainly mothers, emerged as vocal advocates for drug policy reform and harm reduction, using their stories to challenge the stigma of drug-related death. In 2017, we launched a qualitative research partnership with leading family organizations in Canada, conducting inte…
Cohort study of medical cannabis authorisation and healthcare utilisation in 2014–2017 in Ontario, Canada
BACKGROUND: The impact of medical cannabis on healthcare utilisation between 2014 and 2017 in Ontario, Canada. With cannabis legalisation in Canada and some states in the USA, high-quality longitudinal cohort research studies are of urgent need to assess the impact of cannabis use on healthcare utilisation. METHODS: A matched cohort study of 9925 medical cannabis authorised adult patients (inhaled (smoked or vaporised) or orally consumed (oils)) …
Turning failure into success
Cannabis policy in Canada is a puzzling affair. Since the 1960s and as recently as 2006, several policy windows have opened promising evidence-based cannabis law reform only to be slammed shut before achieving meaningful change. This ‘saga of promise, hesitation, and retreat’ has motivated Canadian cannabis researchers to investigate the reasons behind this policy inertia. These single-jurisdiction analyses have resulted in interesting yet necess…
Needle exchange and the HIV epidemic in Vancouver
Canada Moving Backwards on Illegal Drugs
A common public health-oriented policy framework for cannabis, alcohol and tobacco in Canada
Canadian harm reduction policies
Principles, practice, and policy vacuums
Cannabis legalization in the provinces and territories
Changes in patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores in adults with medical authorization for cannabis
Although the majority showed no clinically important changes in PHQ-9 scores, a number of patients showed improvement or deteriorations in PHQ-9 scores. Future studies should focus on the parallel use of screening questionnaires to control for PHQ-9 sensitivity and to explore potential factors that may have attributed to the improvement in scores pre- and post- 3-6 month time period
Recognizing and responding to women experiencing homelessness with gendered and trauma-informed care
In order to ensure that women who are less visible in their experiences of homelessness are able to access appropriate services, it is important that service provision is both gender specific and trauma-informed. Current Housing First interventions should be adapted to ensure women's safety is protected and their unique needs are addressed
Supporting the full participation of people who use drugs in policy fora
The overdose epidemic in North America remains acute and interventions are needed to mitigate harm and prevent death. People who use/d drugs (PWUD) hold essential knowledge to guide the development of these interventions and conferences are vital fora for hearing their perspectives and building support for new policies and programs. However, little guidance exists on how to best ensure the safety of PWUD during conferences. In October 2018, a low…
Cohort study of medical cannabis authorisation and healthcare utilisation in 2014–2017 in Ontario, Canada
BACKGROUND: The impact of medical cannabis on healthcare utilisation between 2014 and 2017 in Ontario, Canada. With cannabis legalisation in Canada and some states in the USA, high-quality longitudinal cohort research studies are of urgent need to assess the impact of cannabis use on healthcare utilisation. METHODS: A matched cohort study of 9925 medical cannabis authorised adult patients (inhaled (smoked or vaporised) or orally consumed (oils)) …
“I'm not your reality show
North America's overdose crisis is one of the most urgent public health issues of our time and parents bereaved from substance use are a prominent voice within the news media. To date, however, the experiences of bereaved mothers who have shared their stories with the media has not been well-documented, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of their political advocacy efforts. In 2017, we conducted qualitative interviews with 43 mothers …
Opioid use in medical cannabis authorization adult patients from 2013 to 2018
This short-term study found that medical cannabis authorization showed intermediate effects on opioid use, which was dependent on initial opioid use. Greater observations of changes in OME appear to be in those patients who were on a high dosage of opioids (OME > 100); however, continued surveillance of patients utilizing both opioids and medical cannabis is warranted by clinicians to understand the long-term potential benefits and any harms of o…
Towards cross-Canada monitoring of the unregulated street drug supply
This study is the first to describe a feasible, scalable monitoring system for the unregulated drug supply that can contrast expected and actual drug use and compare trends across regions. The system used principles of flexibility, capacity-building and community participation in its design. Results are well-suited to meet the needs of PWUD and inform the local harm reduction services they rely on. Further standardization of the survey tool and k…
You don’t have to squirrel away in a staircase”
PWUD in this study attended the hospital-based SCS in an attempt to reduce risks associated with their hospital stay. However, we note a number of access barriers that should be addressed to ensure optimal uptake. Wider provision of SCS in acute care requires both changes to the hospital environment and broader drug policy reform
Bereaved mothers’ engagement in drug policy reform
To date, efforts to address the drug poisoning epidemic have done little to curb casualties. Mothers whose child's death is related to substance use are one group who are bringing their experiences to advocacy efforts aimed at generating new solutions, including calls for decriminalization and legal regulation of drugs. This and other lived experience perspectives represent a critical voice in decision-making and hold the potential to inform more…
It's a Bit of a Double-Edged Sword
North America's overdose crisis is an urgent public health issue that has resulted in thousands of deaths. As the crisis began to take hold across Canada in 2016, bereaved parents, mainly mothers, emerged as vocal advocates for drug policy reform and harm reduction, using their stories to challenge the stigma of drug-related death. In 2017, we launched a qualitative research partnership with leading family organizations in Canada, conducting inte…
Incidence and Predictors of Cannabis-Related Poisoning and Mental and Behavioral Disorders among Patients with Medical Cannabis Authorization
OBJECTIVE: As medical cannabis use increases in North America, establishing its safety profile is a priority. The objective of this study was to assess rates of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations due to poisoning by cannabis, and cannabis-related mental health disorders among medically authorized cannabis patients in Ontario, Canada, between 2014 and 2017. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who received m…
Perceived unmet substance use and mental health care needs of acute care patients who use drugs
Policy actor views on structural vulnerability in harm reduction and policymaking for illegal drugs
Changes in supervised consumption site use and emergency interventions in Montréal, Canada in the first twelve months of the Covid-19 pandemic
The state of science on including inhalation within supervised consumption services
Response to “Operational and contextual barriers to accessing supervised consumption services in two Canadian cities”
Co-Designing Relational Continuity Interventions for Urban Underserved Patients Experiencing Hospital-Primary Care Transitions
The International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC) is an online, open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes original articles in the field of integrated care on a continuous basis.IJIC has an Impact Factor of 5.120 (2020 JCR, received in June 2021)The IJIC 20th Anniversary Issue was published in 2021
A comparison of the Covid-19 response for urban underserved patients experiencing healthcare transitions in three Canadian cities
The pandemic response has exposed inequities for urban underserved populations experiencing care transitions; however, it has also exposed system strengths and opportunities for improvement to inform future policy direction
Medicine (37 obras) · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk (32 obras) · Opioid Use Disorder Treatment (26 obras) · Psychiatry (25 obras) · Public health (24 obras) · Political science (23 obras) · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes (19 obras) · Law (17 obras) · Nursing (17 obras) · Psychology (17 obras)