Elaine Hyshka
@ehyshka.bsky.social
Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Health Systems Innovation at the University of Alberta's School of Public Health. Substance use and public health.
Edmonton/Treaty 6. ichwp.ca + whyscs.ca.
Edmonton/Treaty 6. ichwp.ca + whyscs.ca.
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
this American mom expresses how I felt after my son died, and why I am in advocacy.
“My son died because I believed in systems that were never designed to protect him. Worse, those systems convinced me that punitive drug policies were keeping him safe when they were actively putting him at risk. “
“My son died because I believed in systems that were never designed to protect him. Worse, those systems convinced me that punitive drug policies were keeping him safe when they were actively putting him at risk. “
"When fentanyl is framed as a weapon of war, the policy response shifts toward fear—militarization, surveillance, arrests and incarceration—instead of interventions that keep people alive."
filtermag.org/fentanyl-wea...
filtermag.org/fentanyl-wea...
Fentanyl, Involved in My Son’s Death, Is No “Weapon of Mass Destruction” - Filter
In December, the federal government announced it would classify illicit fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction.” Having buried my ...
filtermag.org
January 5, 2026 at 4:33 PM
this American mom expresses how I felt after my son died, and why I am in advocacy.
“My son died because I believed in systems that were never designed to protect him. Worse, those systems convinced me that punitive drug policies were keeping him safe when they were actively putting him at risk. “
“My son died because I believed in systems that were never designed to protect him. Worse, those systems convinced me that punitive drug policies were keeping him safe when they were actively putting him at risk. “
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
Alberta man asks province’s top court to fast-track appeal of supervised drug-consumption site closure after his near-fatal overdose, by @alannasmith.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com
Alberta man asks province’s top court to fast-track appeal of drug-use site closure after overdose
Lawyer says man’s life still at risk without access to place where people can consume substances under medical supervision
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Alberta man asks province’s top court to fast-track appeal of supervised drug-consumption site closure after his near-fatal overdose, by @alannasmith.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
“Most people who take prescription opioids must now take them under the supervision of a pharmacist,” is the subhead, a statement that is false in a very important way.
1/
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
1/
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
New safe supply rules take effect in B.C., with mixed reactions | CBC News
Most people who take prescription opioids as an alternative to illicit drugs must now take them under the supervision of a pharmacist. Some worry the move will push people back to toxic street drugs, ...
www.cbc.ca
January 5, 2026 at 10:38 PM
“Most people who take prescription opioids must now take them under the supervision of a pharmacist,” is the subhead, a statement that is false in a very important way.
1/
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
1/
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Overall, Canadian police reported noticeably more drug-impaired and alcohol-impaired driving after 2018. But the growth seemed related mostly to enhanced enforcement and pandemic disruptions, rather than to legalized cannabis.
theconversation.com/after-canada...
theconversation.com/after-canada...
After Canada legalized cannabis, police caught more drunk drivers
Police reported more drug and alcohol impairment after 2018. The growth seemed more due to enforcement changes and pandemic restrictions than to legalized cannabis.
theconversation.com
January 5, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Overall, Canadian police reported noticeably more drug-impaired and alcohol-impaired driving after 2018. But the growth seemed related mostly to enhanced enforcement and pandemic disruptions, rather than to legalized cannabis.
theconversation.com/after-canada...
theconversation.com/after-canada...
Please don't use chatbots for harm reduction advice. www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose.
"Who on earth gives that advice?"
www.sfgate.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Please don't use chatbots for harm reduction advice. www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
News: Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation is suing the Alberta gov over steps taken to enable a separatist referendum, saying it did so despite knowing it would violate treaty.
Suit also contains a summary of statements from separatists re: seeking Trump admin support edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Suit also contains a summary of statements from separatists re: seeking Trump admin support edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation sues over independence referendum, claims government 'conspired' with separatists
A First Nation in northwest Alberta is suing the provincial government ahead of an anticipated separation referendum.
edmontonjournal.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:50 PM
News: Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation is suing the Alberta gov over steps taken to enable a separatist referendum, saying it did so despite knowing it would violate treaty.
Suit also contains a summary of statements from separatists re: seeking Trump admin support edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Suit also contains a summary of statements from separatists re: seeking Trump admin support edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
BREAKING: Federal health officials on Monday announced dramatic revisions to the slate of vaccines recommended for American children, reducing the number of diseases prevented by routine shots to 11 from 17.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/h...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/h...
Kennedy Scales Back the Number of Vaccines Recommended for Children
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:01 PM
BREAKING: Federal health officials on Monday announced dramatic revisions to the slate of vaccines recommended for American children, reducing the number of diseases prevented by routine shots to 11 from 17.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/h...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/h...
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
Incredible the degree to which vaccine hesitancy is now almost entirely about politics, including in Canada!
Who you vote for a strong predictor of what you think about vaccines.
See: angusreid.org/covid-vaccin... via @angusreidinstitute.bsky.social (Oct 2025)
Who you vote for a strong predictor of what you think about vaccines.
See: angusreid.org/covid-vaccin... via @angusreidinstitute.bsky.social (Oct 2025)
January 5, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Incredible the degree to which vaccine hesitancy is now almost entirely about politics, including in Canada!
Who you vote for a strong predictor of what you think about vaccines.
See: angusreid.org/covid-vaccin... via @angusreidinstitute.bsky.social (Oct 2025)
Who you vote for a strong predictor of what you think about vaccines.
See: angusreid.org/covid-vaccin... via @angusreidinstitute.bsky.social (Oct 2025)
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
Evidence from British Columbia shows decriminalisation reduced police interference with access to harm reduction — a key public health objective.
Rolling it back didn’t correct failure. It reversed progress.
Full study:
Rolling it back didn’t correct failure. It reversed progress.
Full study:
Policing and access to harm reduction services among young people who use drugs and young Indigenous people who use drugs before and after the pilot implementation of decriminalization of personal possession
McAdam et al. examine how decriminalisation reduced policing-related barriers to services, revealing important benefits for young people, including Indigenous.
f.mtr.cool
January 4, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Evidence from British Columbia shows decriminalisation reduced police interference with access to harm reduction — a key public health objective.
Rolling it back didn’t correct failure. It reversed progress.
Full study:
Rolling it back didn’t correct failure. It reversed progress.
Full study:
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
Saturday marked the formal debut of an imperial America, led by a president who recognizes no law, save that of the jungle…Every country in the Western Hemisphere should be worried, particularly this country, which Trump so obviously covets as a 51st state.”
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
Globe editorial: The Sunday Editorial: Venezuela’s fate is a warning for Canada
U.S. military action to seize Nicolás Maduro marks the formal debut of an imperial America
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 4, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Saturday marked the formal debut of an imperial America, led by a president who recognizes no law, save that of the jungle…Every country in the Western Hemisphere should be worried, particularly this country, which Trump so obviously covets as a 51st state.”
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
Foreign corporations or citizens can’t own more than 20 acres of land in Alberta, unless the government grants an exemption. Brett McKay has a look at who gets to bypass the rules.
zurl.co/2kJID
zurl.co/2kJID
January 2, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Foreign corporations or citizens can’t own more than 20 acres of land in Alberta, unless the government grants an exemption. Brett McKay has a look at who gets to bypass the rules.
zurl.co/2kJID
zurl.co/2kJID
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
RFK Jr. ordered the CDC to terminate their flu vaccination ad campaign immediately after taking office.
Just in case anyone was curious about his silence in the face of what is emerging as an unusually severe flu season and why he’s not out encouraging vaccines.
Just in case anyone was curious about his silence in the face of what is emerging as an unusually severe flu season and why he’s not out encouraging vaccines.
Robert F Kennedy cancels flu vaccination ad campaign and key vaccine policy meeting
The new US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to halt its publicity campaign encouraging uptake of this year’s seasonal flu vaccine...
www.bmj.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:34 PM
RFK Jr. ordered the CDC to terminate their flu vaccination ad campaign immediately after taking office.
Just in case anyone was curious about his silence in the face of what is emerging as an unusually severe flu season and why he’s not out encouraging vaccines.
Just in case anyone was curious about his silence in the face of what is emerging as an unusually severe flu season and why he’s not out encouraging vaccines.
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
drugpolicy.ca/our-work/add...
“Addiction treatment: what it is, where it currently fails, and how it could meet the needs of people and communities.”
“Addiction treatment: what it is, where it currently fails, and how it could meet the needs of people and communities.”
Addiction Treatment in Context: Principles for a System of Just, Accessible, and Voluntary Care - Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
Position Statement Veuillez noter : une traduction française de cette déclaration sera bientôt disponible. December 30, 2025 This statement outlines the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition’s organization...
drugpolicy.ca
January 2, 2026 at 5:32 PM
drugpolicy.ca/our-work/add...
“Addiction treatment: what it is, where it currently fails, and how it could meet the needs of people and communities.”
“Addiction treatment: what it is, where it currently fails, and how it could meet the needs of people and communities.”
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
Researchers consistently fail to consider the true costs of policing when they evaluate its effectiveness. Traffic stops don't improve safety and have massive social costs.
Recent research found that traffic stops by police in Hillsborough County, Florida reduced voter turnout in 2014, 2016, and 2018 federal elections.
A Police Stop Is Enough to Make Someone Less Likely to Vote
New research shows how the communities that are most heavily policed are pushed away from politics and from having a say in changing policy.
boltsmag.org
January 2, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Researchers consistently fail to consider the true costs of policing when they evaluate its effectiveness. Traffic stops don't improve safety and have massive social costs.
Canada already forces psychiatric hospitalizations on people at higher rates per capita than any other country with comparable standards of living and health systems. #ableg #cdnpoli
apple.news/ALUtFxt_-TUO...
apple.news/ALUtFxt_-TUO...
Opinion: Why does Canada have such high rates of forced psychiatric hospitalizations? — The Globe and Mail
We should push our governments to better report on who’s being involuntarily committed and why, and if they’re more often helped or seriously harmed
apple.news
January 2, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Canada already forces psychiatric hospitalizations on people at higher rates per capita than any other country with comparable standards of living and health systems. #ableg #cdnpoli
apple.news/ALUtFxt_-TUO...
apple.news/ALUtFxt_-TUO...
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
For those who have been led to believe that this year’s flu vaccine doesn’t work, this isn’t the case.
ER visits and hospital admissions are reduced by 72–75% in children and adolescents, and by 32–39% in adults.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
ER visits and hospital admissions are reduced by 72–75% in children and adolescents, and by 32–39% in adults.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Early influenza virus characterisation and vaccine effectiveness in England in autumn 2025, a period dominated by influenza A(H3N2) subclade K
Influenza A(H3N2) subclade K (J.2.4.1) has dominated the 2025/26 season start in England. Post-infection ferret antisera raised against northern hemisphere 2025/26 vaccine strains showed reduced reactivity to subclade K viruses in England, aligning ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
January 1, 2026 at 11:38 PM
For those who have been led to believe that this year’s flu vaccine doesn’t work, this isn’t the case.
ER visits and hospital admissions are reduced by 72–75% in children and adolescents, and by 32–39% in adults.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
ER visits and hospital admissions are reduced by 72–75% in children and adolescents, and by 32–39% in adults.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
it’s all i’ve got
December 31, 2025 at 11:58 PM
it’s all i’ve got
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
The death of an Alberta patient waiting for ER care is a tragic, but predictable outcome of provincial government funding decisions
Alberta is an outlier when it comes to declining real per capita hospital expenditures from 2013 to 2022
These decisions have consequences
Alberta is an outlier when it comes to declining real per capita hospital expenditures from 2013 to 2022
These decisions have consequences
December 30, 2025 at 8:15 PM
The death of an Alberta patient waiting for ER care is a tragic, but predictable outcome of provincial government funding decisions
Alberta is an outlier when it comes to declining real per capita hospital expenditures from 2013 to 2022
These decisions have consequences
Alberta is an outlier when it comes to declining real per capita hospital expenditures from 2013 to 2022
These decisions have consequences
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
A fact rather than an opinion, headline aside...
"Opinion: Edmonton's #tuberculosis outbreak shows need for housing"
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...
"Opinion: Edmonton's #tuberculosis outbreak shows need for housing"
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...
Opinion: Edmonton's tuberculosis outbreak shows need for housing
If you are one of the many people who thought tuberculosis just wasn’t a thing anymore, you were practically right— it shouldn’t be.
edmontonjournal.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:47 PM
A fact rather than an opinion, headline aside...
"Opinion: Edmonton's #tuberculosis outbreak shows need for housing"
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...
"Opinion: Edmonton's #tuberculosis outbreak shows need for housing"
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
Drugs aren’t the problem, the drug war is the problem.
Drugs are the solution - solutions people find to a problem in their lives (not always the healthiest or most responsible solution, but a solution nonetheless).
www.counterpunch.org/2025/11/30/d...
Drugs are the solution - solutions people find to a problem in their lives (not always the healthiest or most responsible solution, but a solution nonetheless).
www.counterpunch.org/2025/11/30/d...
Drugs Aren’t the Problem
Drugs are used at the same rate by white and Black people, and white people are more likely to sell drugs than Black people; yet, Black men are incarcerated on drug charges at a rate six to 13 times t...
www.counterpunch.org
December 28, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Drugs aren’t the problem, the drug war is the problem.
Drugs are the solution - solutions people find to a problem in their lives (not always the healthiest or most responsible solution, but a solution nonetheless).
www.counterpunch.org/2025/11/30/d...
Drugs are the solution - solutions people find to a problem in their lives (not always the healthiest or most responsible solution, but a solution nonetheless).
www.counterpunch.org/2025/11/30/d...
Reposted by Elaine Hyshka
Safety in Sport Act was allegedly about protecting girls from transgender girls in contact sports and so that girls could prosper in elite (or elite pathway) sports. None of that applies in this case. The purpose is hate against transgender people.
Opinion: Alberta's new gender rules sink one woman's participation in swim club calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
December 28, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Safety in Sport Act was allegedly about protecting girls from transgender girls in contact sports and so that girls could prosper in elite (or elite pathway) sports. None of that applies in this case. The purpose is hate against transgender people.