The Canadian Public Health Association presented a panel discussion on 4 November 2020 entitled 'Reflections on a Public Health Approach to Substance Use'. This webinar marked an opportunity to explore the gap between public health theory and practice, and what a public health approach should aim to achieve. This is the first in CPHA's Substance Use Webinar Series.
Gord Garner is the Executive Director of the Community Addictions Peer Support Association (CAPSA); he is a national public speaker and trainer on addressing stigma and Person First Language. He is living well with his own substance use disorder at the time of this writing. He is dedicated to removing barriers, to enable policy writers, academics, researchers and people with experience of substance use disorders active or in remission to take evidence-based actions to improve the lives of Canadians concerning substance use.
Scott Harrison is a Registered Nurse with 30 years of clinical experience focused on marginalized communities. His professional role is Executive Director for Urban Health and the Vancouver Coastal Health/Providence Health Care Integrated Substance Use programs. He is also continuing his training with an MA in Psychotherapy.
Elena Hasheminejad is an Acting Manager at York Region Public Health on the Substance Use Prevention & Harm Reduction program. Elena has over 7 years of experience working in the substance and harm reduction program, with a primary focus on the cannabis portfolio. She has had the opportunity to participate in federal and provincial consultations for cannabis legalization and regulation. Elena is also a clinical teacher at a local college teaching Community and Population Health nursing. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing and a Master’s in Education.
Elaine Hyshka is currently appointed as an Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management in the University of Alberta's School of Public Health. Her research spans both health services and systems and population health pillars, and focuses on advancing a public health approach to substance use. Her program leverages her interdisciplinary background and diverse methodological experience to generate new knowledge that advances health systems innovation and improves health outcomes. Her research team has a core engaged scholarship orientation and their work is conducted from start to finish in partnership with people with lived experience of substance use, poverty, and homelessness; healthcare providers; health authorities; civil society organizations; and governments at all levels.