An Edmonton physician with nearly four decades of experience is taking on a pivotal national role in the fight against addiction. Dr. Louis Francescutti, a respected emergency doctor at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, has been appointed as the new chair of the board for the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA).
A National Mandate Rooted in Local Experience
Dr. Francescutti, 72, brings a wealth of frontline knowledge to the position, emphasizing the profound strain that substance misuse places on public health. "Alcohol misuse, drug use, tobacco use and gambling have a tremendous impact on our health-care system," he stated, highlighting the broad scope of the challenges ahead. His appointment, announced in late December 2025, follows his initial application to serve as a board member, an offer that was unexpectedly elevated to the leadership role.
For Francescutti, this volunteer position is a form of giving back. "It’s an honour to serve and it’s an honour to be able to improve the lives that are struggling," he said, noting his family's immigrant journey from Italy. His local work in Edmonton, particularly as a champion of the innovative Bridge Healing program, informs his national vision. That initiative provides crucial transitional housing and support for homeless individuals after they are discharged from city emergency departments.
Priorities: Governance, Urgency, and Evidence-Based Solutions
As chair, Dr. Francescutti's immediate focus is on building a high-performing board to govern the CCSA effectively. His strategy involves "creating a sense of urgency with humility" to foster open discussions about difficult topics that touch countless Canadian families. He aims to bridge the gap between community-driven solutions, like the Bridge Healing model, and robust scientific evidence to bolster effective policy development.
"We’ve all been impacted by someone that we know, either in our family or work or our community, that’s got issues with alcohol, drugs, tobacco or gambling," Francescutti remarked, underscoring the widespread nature of the crisis. His approach will stress addressing the root causes of addiction rather than just its symptoms, leveraging his nearly 40-year medical career to guide evidence-based advice for policymakers across the country.
Addressing a Deepening Crisis
The doctor's new role comes at a critical time for Canada, as cities like Edmonton grapple with an increasingly toxic drug supply and rising overdoses. Francescutti acknowledges the difficulty of the task, stating, "Is it going to be easy? I don’t think so, but it’ll be a challenge." His leadership is expected to steer the CCSA toward more integrated and compassionate strategies that connect national research with lifesaving local interventions, aiming to reduce the devastating health and social costs of addiction nationwide.
