Edmonton Heroes: University of Alberta prof stares down drug stigma

published on April 25, 2016 by Samantha Power, in Metro News

Heroes: Elaine Hyshka uses evidence, not judgment, to figure out a more effective opioid response

The making of Elaine Hyshka started with an undergraduate course back in 2006.

“There was a lecture on the response to the drug problem and I was stunned at the overemphasis on the criminal justice system,” she says.

The need for change was evident to her even then. “There was a lot of clear evidence criminalization was contributing to negative health outcomes.”

Today, policy that works for people rather than re-asserts a destructive moral code is at the heart of Hyshka’s work.

She's a newly-appointed assistant professor in public health at the University of Alberta, where she's well placed to continue researching and advocating for public health and harm reduction reform for people who misuse substances.

Her study of drug users in Edmonton’s inner city holds promise for real change. As is her way, she's spoken to actual users rather than stigmatize them — in all, 320 hours of interviews with participants who use drugs.

It’s the largest survey of its kind. And it reveals important new information on the number of drug users, needle sharing rates and rates of non-fatal overdoses.

The level of people who reported sharing syringes "was higher than I expected,” Hyshka says.

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Edmonton Heroes: University of Alberta prof stares down drug stigma

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