Kyle Sittek-Lumsden lives in Toronto, Ontario and is an active member of MAPS Canada's policy and advocacy committee and podcast team. He completed his bachelor of arts in political science and sociology, and Masters of Public Policy at the Munk School of Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. He wrote his Capstone thesis on reducing the harm of licit and illicit substances through evidence-based public policy.
He has an occupational background working for the Ontario Public Service at the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade as well as previous experience working on criminological research projects on recidivism and substance use in correctional facilities.
While volunteering for MAPS Canada, Kyle has led a project focusing on the relationship between psychedelic-assisted therapy for end of life suffering and Medical Assistance in Dying. He is motivated and passionate about this subject due to being a long term caregiver for a family member. Kyle is also the lead on a project focusing on the potential for psychedelic-assisted therapy to treat alcohol use disorder.
Kyle Sittek-Lumsden has hosted one Episode.
-
Episode 46: Can Psychedelics Heal the Roots of Addiction? with Dr. Pamela Kryskow
March 20th, 2026 | 1 hr 6 mins
What if addiction isn't the problem but a response to something deeper?
In this episode, Dr. Pamela Kryskow joins host Kyle Sittek-Lumsden to explore the role of psychedelic-assisted therapy in the treatment of substance use disorders. Drawing on her clinical experience, Dr. Kryskow discusses how addiction is increasingly understood as a response to trauma, emotional pain, and disconnection, rather than a moral failing. The conversation highlights how addressing root causes rather than symptoms alone can lead to meaningful and lasting change.
The discussion also examines current treatment approaches in Canada, including ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA-assisted therapies, as well as the importance of preparation, integration, and community support. Dr. Kryskow reflects on the evolving landscape of psychedelic medicine, ongoing barriers to access, and what a more effective, patient-centered system of care could look like in the future.