Crackdown

Episode 58: Toothless Tiger

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 03:59:15 +0000

Cops kill people. They hurt people. They sexually assault people. And when they do, there’s a whole system that’s supposed to hold them accountable, but it barely works. On Episode 58, Garth and Sam dig into Canada’s rotten history of police accountability—and ask whether the system is failing, or doing exactly what it was built to do.

HEADLINES

A recent report by the Tracking (In)Justice Project at Carleton University has found that Canadian police officers have killed significantly more people during the 2020s than in previous decades. In 96% of cases Canada’s police oversight agencies declined to recommend or lay charges on officers.

APTN reports that a family from the Swan Lake First Nation in Manitoba is frustrated with the province’s Independent Investigations Unit. In 2025, an officer with the Manitoba First Nations Police Service shot and killed their dog. This week, the IIU cleared the officer of any potential charges. (Link).

Universities are spying on students. The Breach uncovered a secret network of administrators at top Canadian universities. This “top-secret” network worked to surveille and suppress students protesting Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. In Alberta, University managers were found to have colluded with the UCP government and the police to clear student encampments using violent, para-military raids.

Since 2025, the US military has killed over 200 people as part of Operation Southern Spear – a campaign to bomb small fishing boats in the Caribbean. Human rights organizations have called it “illegal” and a “murder spree.” President Donald Trump has claimed that these bombings contributed to a 97% reduction in drugs trafficked to the US by sea. However, a recently leaked Drug Enforcement Administration assessment states that Donald Trumps’ bombings have completely failed to impact the supply, purity, and price of cocaine in the United States. (Link 1, Link 2, Link 3).

UPDATES

DULF’s Charter Challenge had its last day in court at the end of July. You can read Michelle Gamage’s reporting on the trial for The Tyee on the DULF trial here.

The BC Supreme Court recently issued a decision saying that David Eby’s forced treatment centres violate Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Read Health Justice’s summary of the decision here.

FEATURE STORY #1

Garth and Sam talk to Kingsley Gilliam, a civil rights legend and the Director of Advocacy for the Black Action Defence Committee, as well as Lydia Lukas Lobbezoo, a policy consultant and researcher specializing in police oversight. You can read Lydia Lukas Lobozoo’s thesis, “Police oversight and the search for justice in British Columbia,” here.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

Support Starlings work with youth whose parents use drugs, here.

FEATURE STORY #2

Garth and Sam talk to Samona Marsh, Tyson Singh Kelsall, Paul Henry, and Professor Kanna Hayashi from the Vancouver-based organization, Police Oversight With Evidence and Research (POWER). You can read POWER’s report “What Are Police For?” and their IDJP paper on police confiscations here.

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

Pivot legal society recently released a guide for health care service providers in BC to know their rights when encountering police officers.

Amy Romer investigates the emotional realities of living through a planetary health crisis in the new podcast series, Beyond Ecological Grief.

Read Justin Mah’s touching essay about his relationship with his father, mental health, and the overdose crisis, “Amidst a Protracted Toxic Drug Crisis.”

Read Euan Thompson’s investigative series (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4) about the Nova Scotia government’s attacks on the Halifax-based Out of the Cold Community Association.

CREDITS

Crackdown is produced on the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations.

Our editorial board is Dean Wilson, Jeff Louden, Laura Shaver, Samona Marsh, Delilah Gregg, Ryan Maddeaux, Scotty Archonous and Martin Steward. Rest in peace Shelda Kastor, Dave Murray, Greg Fresz and Chereece Keewatin.

This episode was conceptualized, written, and produced by Sam Fenn and Garth Mullins with help from Professor Kanna Hayashi, Tyson Singh Kelsall, and Alex de Boer. Sam and Garth also wrote some of the music in this episode. The rest was produced by Blue Dot Sessions.

This episode was funded in part by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant awarded to Professor Kanna Hayashi (funding number PJT-190266).

Please support Crackdown at patreon.com/crackdownpod.

Episode 57: We Ain’t Dead Yet

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:36:37 +0000

Description

Garth and Sam discuss Elanore Sturko, Vaughn Palmer and Tristin Hopper’s responses to Canada’s declining overdose deaths in 2025. Was it the NDP’s abandonment of decriminalization and “prescribed alternatives” that caused fewer Canadians to die?

No, it wasn’t.

Table of Contents

[04:21] SEGMENT 1: Show updates – we ain’t dead yet!

[08:01] SEGMENT 2: Canada’s ultraconservatives want credit for the declining overdoses. Do they deserve any?

[23:26] SEGMENT 3: Community Profile – Tyson Singh Kelsall and Police Oversight with Evidence and Research (POWER).

[25:34] SEGMENT 4: Evaluating the federal Liberal Party. Is there anything they can do to stop the attacks on overdose prevention across the country?

[36:05] SEGMENT 5: How much credit does the drug user movement deserve for the declining overdose numbers?

[41:58] SEGMENT 6: Bubble pipes and other kinds of glassware are becoming scarce in BC. We discuss an open letter written by drug users.

Notes

You can support our friends at Power here: https://www.policeoversight.ca/

Graph – “Necropolitics” in fatal overdose projections (link):

Graph – Declining fentanyl purity since 2023 (link):

Graph – Reddit posts discussing fentanyl droughts (link):

A link to VANDU’s open letter on glassware shortages in BC will be uploaded to our website when it’s available: https://www.crackdownpod.com/

Works Cited

Reports

BC Centre for Disease Control. “Population Estimates of Opioid-Related Harms in BC.” 2026.

The Public Health Agency of Canada. Modelling Apparent Opioid Toxicity Deaths during the Overdose Crisis. Government of Canada. 2025.

The Government of Canada. “Opioid- and Stimulant-Related Harms in Canada: Key Findings.” 2026.

Press Conferences

Cable Public Affairs Channel. “Federal Officials Hold a News Conference on Illegal Drug Crisis.” Press Conference, 2026.

Gebien, Darryl. Zöe Dodd Brave Words to Politicians at Health Canada’s Opioid Symposium 2018 in Toronto. YouTube. 2018.

Books

Lupick, Travis. Fighting for Space: How a Group of Drug Users Transformed One City’s Struggle with Addiction. Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press, 2017.

AudioBooks

Mbembe, Achille. Necropolitics. Translated by Steven Corcoran. Narrated by Sean Crisden. Tantor Media, 2021. Audiobook, 8 hr., 31 min.

Journal Articles

Fischer, Benedikt, and Wayne Hall. “Recent Decreases in Drug Overdose Deaths: Assessing Evidence for Supply-Related Drivers and Implications for Health-Oriented Drug Policy in Canada.” Preventive Medicine 209 (August 2026): 108607.

Fischer, Benedikt, Wayne Hall, Didier Jutras-Aswad, and Bernard Le Foll. “Considering Possible Drivers of the Recent Decrease in Drug Overdose Deaths in Canada.” The Lancet Regional Health – Americas 47 (July 2025): 101141.

Irvine, Michael A., Daniel Coombs, Jane A. Buxton, Robert Balshaw, Mark Gilbert, David M. Patrick, Mark Tyndall, and Navdeep Chami. “Modelling the Combined Impact of Interventions in Averting Deaths During a Synthetic-Opioid Overdose Epidemic.” Addiction 114, no. 9 (September 2019): 1602–1612.

Lavalley, Jennifer, Linda Steinhauer, Dino (Boomer) Bundy, Thomas Kerr, and Ryan McNeil. “‘They Talk about It like It’s an Overdose Crisis When in Fact It’s Basically Genocide’: The Experiences of Indigenous Peoples Who Use Illicit Drugs in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood.” International Journal of Drug Policy 134 (December 2024): 104631.

Vangelov, Kasey, Keith Humphreys, Jonathan P. Caulkins, Harold Pollack, Bryce Pardo, and Peter Reuter. “Did the Illicit Fentanyl Trade Experience a Supply Shock?” Science 391, no. 6781 (2026): 134–36.

News Stories – Videos

“Calgary’s Supervised Consumption Site Closes after Nearly a Decade of Debate.” Global News. June 30, 2026.

“‘Heartbreaking’: 1 Overdose Death Every 5 Minutes.” Rush Hour – News Nation. May 11, 2022.

“‘I Want to Help Them’: Doug Ford Says He’s Closing Safe Consumption Sites for People’s Own Good.” CTV News. March 16, 2026.

Lavoie, Joanna. “West Toronto Supervised Consumption Site Shutting down after Ford Government Pulls Funding.” CTV News, October 27, 2025.

“No ‘Silver Bullet’ to Solve Canada’s Toxic Drug Crisis: Health Minister.” CBC News. June 15, 2026.

“Ontario Government Defunds Supervised Drug Consumption Sites, Forcing Closures.” City News. March 16, 2026.

“Opioid Crisis May Be Declining Canadians’ Life Expectancy.” The National. October 23, 2018.

“Opioid Deaths Are on the Decline, but Canada’s Crisis Is Still Far from Over.” CTV News. June 15, 2026.

“Overdose Prevention Site Shuts Down.” CTV News Vancouver. February 4, 2026.

“Pierre Poilievre Calls Supervised Consumption Sites ‘drug Dens,’ Vows to Close Them.” CBC News. July 12, 2024.

News Stories – Print/Online

Finkle, Derek. “Academics Trying to Gaslight Residents Terrorized by Safe Injection Site Crime.” National Post. October 1, 2025.

Hopper, Tristin. “B.C. Premier Admits That Decriminalizing Drugs Was a Mistake.” National Post. October 7, 2025.

Hopper, Tristin. “B.C. Recriminalized Drugs, and Overdose Deaths Are in Decline.” National Post. June 27, 2026.

Paling, Emma. “EXCLUSIVE: Carney Government Prevented Parkdale SCS from Staying Open.” The Grind, January 21, 2026.

Palmer, Vaughn. “Dropping Opioid Death Toll Hints B.C. NDP Retreat on Harm-Reduction May Be Working.” The Vancouver Sun, June 15, 2026.

The Canadian Press. “First Nations Overdose Deaths in B.C. Drop in 2025, but Still Disproportionally High.” CTV News, April 15, 2026.

Social Media Posts

Sturko, Elenore. X Post. June 16, 2026: https://x.com/elenoresturko/status/2066890213021122905.

Vote4ABC. Instagram Post. May 5, 2026; https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX-srKjxNHZ/.

Credits

Crackdown is produced on the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations.

Thanks to Alex de Boer for helping us find some of the articles we discussed on the show.

This episode was conceptualized, written, and produced by Sam Fenn and Garth Mullins. Sam and Garth also wrote and recorded all the music in this episode.

If you like what we do at Crackdown, please support us at patreon.com/crackdownpod.

Episode 56: Extraordinary Circumstances

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 22:07:22 +0000

It’s been almost six years since the launch of BC’s tiny safe supply program; also known as “prescribed alternatives.” Although the evidence that safe supply saves lives hasn’t changed, the political favourability of BC’s program has.

In episode 56, we talk to safe supply patients, prescribers and experts who are experiencing the dismantling of this life saving program first hand.

Episode 55: The Man in the High Castle

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 01:33:58 +0000

With fascism on the rise around the world, we explore the relationship between Canada’s housing and policing policies and the risk of far right authoritarianism at home.

Episode 54: Get Sober or Get Dead

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 18:29:31 +0000

Alberta is the involuntary treatment capital of Canada. Since 2006, the province has encouraged parents to waive their children’s rights and force them into detox as part of the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act. And in the coming months, Alberta will begin involuntarily detaining adults as well.

On episode 54, Crackdown producer Alex de Boer travels to Edmonton to meet Angie Staines and her son Brandon Shaw. When Brandon got wired as a young teen, Angie had a difficult choice to make: should she force Brandon to sober up? And what would happen to their relationship if she did?

Episode 53: Goodbye Trey

Tue, 13 May 2025 21:49:51 +0000

We lost another soldier from the front lines. Trey Helten, longtime manager of the Overdose Prevention Society and all around harm reduction hero on the Downtown Eastside has died at 42. Trey saved hundreds of lives. He was a friend to Crackdown and often helped connect us with community members. He was featured on the show twice. Today we’re listening back to both segments.

Trey, we’re heartbroken. Rest in power.

Episode 52: We Will Delete All This

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 04:53:33 +0000

Garth’s new book, Crackdown: Surviving and Resisting the War On Drugs, has just been published by Penguin Random House and is now available for purchase online.

In Episode 52 of Crackdown, Garth reads a chapter of his book called “We Will Delete All This,” about his first time using heroin as a teenager in San Francisco.

*Trigger warning for sexual abuse of a child and sex work.

Episode 51: Goodbye Shelda

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 21:03:57 +0000

On March 26th, we learned that our dear friend and comrade Shelda Kastor passed away. Shelda was a hero who dedicated decades of her life to fighting for the poor, drug users, Indigenous people, and women in Vancouver. Since Crackdown’s first meeting, Shelda helped us tell the story of how colonialism and the drug war work together to harm Indigenous people in Canada.

On episode 51 we reflect on this profound loss to our show, our movement, and our community.

We will never forget you Shelda.

Credits

Crackdown is produced on the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh Nations.

Our editorial board is Dean Wilson, Jeff Louden, Laura Shaver, Samona Marsh, Elli Taylor, Delilah Gregg, and Martin Steward. Rest in peace Shelda Kastor Dave Murray, Greg Fresz and Chereece Keewatin.

This episode was conceptualized, written, and produced by Garth Mullins, Sam Fenn, and Alex de Boer.

Mix by Alex Kim.

All music by Blue Dot Sessions.

If you like what we do here at Crackdown, please support us at patreon.com/crackdownpod.

Thanks for listening. Stay safe and keep six.

Episode 50: The Toll

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:17:27 +0000

It’s the end of an era in Canada. On March 10th – after nine years in power – Mark Carney replaced Justin Trudeau as Canada’s Prime Minister. We mark the occasion by looking back at Trudeau’s legacy on the drug war: over 50,000 preventable overdose deaths. And we struggle to describe how this epidemic of death and grief has changed us and our movement.

What happens when you give drug users drugs?

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 23:24:11 +0000

In this bonus episode, we’re introducing On Drugs from CBC.

On Drugs from CBC looks through the lenses of history, pop culture and personal experience to understand how drugs have shaped our world. Because even if it’s just caffeine or ibuprofen, there’s a good chance you’re on drugs right now.

In Vancouver’s East Hastings, the Safe Supply program challenges the conventional narrative that sobriety is the ultimate goal. Host, Geoff Turner visits the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users office to sit down with Garth. This episode explores harm reduction, examining how drug addiction intersects with issues of poverty, shame, and community. Are programs like these changing lives? Why did they end? Did decriminalization really fail?

More episodes of On Drugs are available at: https://link.mgln.ai/Hipojc

Episode 49: The Best Place

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 01:04:37 +0000

Vancouver, British Columbia, is one of the best places on earth – a world class city surrounded by ocean and mountains. If you can afford it, the good life is yours. But over the last fifteen years, Vancouver has become more dangerous for drug users than ever before. Especially young drug users. In episode 49, … Continue reading →

Episode 48: Losing BC

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 05:25:20 +0000

On the eve of a provincial election in British Columbia, Garth and Sam drill down on the parties’ platforms. Plus — VANDU member Scotty Archondous tells a story relevant to BC’s coming involuntary treatment program.

Episode 47: Low Dead Space

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:45:55 +0000

In episode 47, we bring you a brief update on the show and the harm reduction movement. Plus you’ll hear new tunes from Garth’s band.

Episode 46: The Bench

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 00:37:08 +0000

In Canada, alcohol is legal and we have a safe supply of booze. So why do some people drink mouthwash or rice wine? And why does the state over-police poor people for public drinking? In episode 46, we learn how Canada’s alcohol policies drive illicit drinking. And we hear from a group of drinkers who … Continue reading →

Episode 45: Recriminalization

Fri, 10 May 2024 21:08:00 +0000

Politicians and much of the media have been lying and whipping up a moral panic. And now, decriminalization in British Columbia is all but dead. In this episode, Garth talks with Crackdown senior producer Sam Fenn and VANDU organizer Hannah Dempsey to bring you the straight goods on why drugs have been re-criminalized and what … Continue reading →

Episode 44: Kids on the Block Part 3 – Danny

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 23:30:13 +0000

Right wing politicians say safe supply will hurt kids – that young people will get hooked on drugs they’d otherwise never try. But kids already use drugs. If we want to protect and stabilize the lives of young people who use drugs, we need a regulated, non-toxic drug supply. On episode 44, we hear from … Continue reading →

Episode 43: Kids on the Block Part 2 – Jade

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 23:56:34 +0000

Rightwing politicians and media pundits want us to fear safe supply and harm reduction. They say these interventions are putting children and families in danger, when we know the opposite is true. But there is one thing these conservatives are right about: Canadian kids have never been less safe. Not because of harm reduction, but … Continue reading →

Episode 42: Kids on the Block Part 1 – Bones

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 20:52:54 +0000

Across the country, politicians and the media are fearmongering about children’s safety. They’re using a faux concern about families to attack harm reduction and the drug user movement. And their rhetoric is rolling back life-saving, public health responses to the overdose crisis. But now young people are pushing back. They’re saying they don’t want to … Continue reading →

Episode 41: New Front, Old War

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 21:34:43 +0000

Toxic drug deaths continue to break records in BC. We need an immediate expansion on all harm reduction initiatives. More than anything, we need a real safe supply. Instead, the BC NDP is moving backwards. They’ve fallen in line with a nation-wide moral panic and are actively rolling back the province’s hydromorphone prescribing and drug … Continue reading →

Episode 40: Boys Don’t Cry

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 00:21:09 +0000

In the trades there’s a zero-tolerance policy on substance use. But the construction industry relies on drugs. Cocaine and stimulants help maintain a demanding rate of production and opioids treat the pain caused by injury and gruelling physical labour. On the 40th episode of Crackdown, we tell the story of one construction industry veteran, Trevor … Continue reading →

Episode 39: Backlash

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 23:37:40 +0000

A right wing backlash against harm reduction and safe supply is brewing in Canada. Garth Mullins and Sam Fenn tell the story of how we got here — and what needs to be done to fight back.

Episode 38: The Knock

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 19:55:51 +0000

Being a mother who uses drugs can put you under constant scrutiny from the government. Especially if you’re Indigenous. You’re judged and watched. You live in fear of that knock on the door, when they come to take your kids away. Many moms are rightly scared to access safer supply, harm reduction, detox and withdrawal … Continue reading →

Episode 37: Drugstore Cowboy

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 04:09:59 +0000

Diversion: a cold, technocratic word for when we give, trade or sell our prescribed meds to someone else. A ghost story, whispered among doctors and now, a moral panic, hollered by right wing politicians. But really, everyone’s shared their meds. I’ve done it and I bet you have too – as an act of mutual … Continue reading →

Episode 36: Some Exceptions Apply

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 06:18:11 +0000

BC just decriminalized drugs. Well sort of. For the next three years, it’s legal to carry 2.5 grams or less of certain illicit drugs. But some exceptions apply. We’ve been fighting for decrim for decades. The goal has always been to stop arrests and get cops out of our lives. We got a watered … Continue reading →

Episode 35: On the Clock

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 00:46:16 +0000

Sex workers who use drugs are doubly criminalized. They have to look out for bad dope and bad dates. And change comes slow. Fights for incremental change don’t get at the big structures that cause so much harm. Are they worth it? We wonder about this when it comes to drug decriminalization. Next year it’ll … Continue reading →

Psychoactive Swap

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 22:54:58 +0000

I know you haven’t heard from us in a while. We’ve been busy. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes. So while we’re working on new episodes, we’ve done a swap with another podcast. Crackdown and Psychoactive podcast are swapping episodes. They played our episode on the Drug User Liberation Front. And we are … Continue reading →

Episode 34: The Iron Law

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 21:45:27 +0000

Drug decriminalization is coming to British Columbia. And that’s a big step forward. Our movement has been fighting for decriminalization for decades. To us, decriminalization means getting cops, courts and jails out of our lives. It means police stop harassing, arresting and seizing dope off of us. For the past year, VANDU sent Garth and … Continue reading →

Episode 33: You Will Not Destroy Me

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 17:26:44 +0000

A spectre is haunting BC’s overdose crisis — the ghost of Riverview Hospital. Riverview was one of the province’s main psychiatric hospitals for a century. The giant complex – sitting on 1,000 acres of kʷikʷəƛ̓əm territory just outside of Vancouver – was largely closed in 2012. Today it’s a popular horror film shoot location. Garth … Continue reading →

Episode 32: Goodbye Greg

Wed, 18 May 2022 18:22:42 +0000

Last month, Crackdown Editorial Board member Greg Fresz passed away. As usual, we held a memorial for our comrade at VANDU. Sadly, we do this a lot. There’s nothing really that makes this constant death feel better, but at least we can feel “not better” together. That camaraderie? It’s the only thing that helps. When … Continue reading →

Episode 31: Love, Death and Benzodope

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 23:21:07 +0000

Can Martin and Laura’s fairy tale love story survive benzodope – the next lethal era of the drug war? British Columbia has seen a surge of unusual overdoses – including Martin and Laura’s. People are passing out for hours, losing their memories, and getting robbed and assaulted. And deaths have spiked. Again. But our community … Continue reading →

Episode 30: DULF

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 20:11:21 +0000

In spite of a massive spike in overdose death, BC’s government still refuses to offer a genuinely safe supply of drugs. Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum tell the story of how the Drug User Liberation Front has stepped up to do what the policy makers refuse to do themselves: offer people a safe version of … Continue reading →

Episode 29: Resign

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 23:51:36 +0000

2,224 people died of toxic drug overdose in BC in 2021, says the Chief Coroner. How many months of fatal OD statistics have we seen since 2016? Fifty? Sixty? How many health and addictions ministers have passed through our lives as those numbers got bigger, only to move on after a few years? Enough. Politicians … Continue reading →

Episode 28: After the Flood

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 01:22:50 +0000

2021 was a year of very ominous weather reports. There were unprecedented heat emergencies, wildfires, and Biblical floods. Meanwhile COVID-19, income inequality, and the overdose crisis continued to become more and more grim. What would it feel like to endure all of this as a young person? What would it be like to try to … Continue reading →

Yard Tales Swap

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 20:24:58 +0000

This month we’re bringing you an episode of the podcast Yard Tales, where Garth was recently a guest. Crackdown’s musical wizard James Ash is also featured on this one. Yard Tales is a show about forbidden spaces hosted by Luz Fleming. Some stories feature border crossings, life altering events, the need to express one’s self … Continue reading →

Episode 27: Cop Baked In

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 03:12:14 +0000

Editorial Statement on the Criticism of Suboxone Since 2017, the BC government has been massively expanding access to a prescription medication called Suboxone that provides far less euphoria than methadone or heroin. On episode 27 of Crackdown, we tell the story of Crackdown Editorial Board Reija Jean as she tries to become a “Suboxone person.” … Continue reading →

Live at AAA 2019

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 01:17:57 +0000

Here’s a little bonus content. In November of 2019, Crackdown held a panel at the American Anthropological Association Conference in Vancouver. As drug users, we’ve gotten familiar with what it feels like when anthropology is done to us, when we are its subjects – its Guinea pigs. But in this panel we talk about what … Continue reading →

Episode 26: Artificial Energy

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 03:43:48 +0000

On Episode 26 of Crackdown, we look at crystal meth and the need to adapt to an unrelenting world.

Episode 25: The Lab

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 06:19:47 +0000

While overdoses in BC are climbing to unprecedented rates, some doctors still refuse to provide drug users with access to pharmaceutical versions of illicit drugs. Instead, many doctors view addiction as a chronic disease to be treated by limiting euphoria, prescribing “safer” analogues, or surveilling their patients. On episode 25, Garth interviews Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute … Continue reading →

Episode 24: If It Wasn’t Drugs It Would Be Something Else

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 00:56:56 +0000

On Episode 24, Garth talks with the best-selling writer and activist Desmond Cole about how police use Canada’s drug war as a pretext for violence against Black communities. Garth and Desmond also discuss the relationship between the movement to decriminalize drugs and the movement to defund and abolish the police.

Episode 23: Cop Free Future

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 16:25:46 +0000

https://www.patreon.com/posts/49524957

After 113 years, things might be changing in Vancouver. Mayor Kennedy Stewart has written to the federal government, asking for an exemption from Canada’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. If he gets it, the city could decriminalize the simple possession of drugs.

In light of this announcement, Crackdown is taking a look at the birth of the drug war in Canada. When and why did it start? And what is it going to take to finally end it?

Episode 22: We’re Not Afraid of Needles Around Here

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 01:56:33 +0000

In the midst of a pandemic and overdose crisis, members of Crackdown’s Editorial Board are relieved to be getting the COVID vaccine. But we don’t just trust the government, so we’re doing our homework. For years, drug users have looked at medical and public health interventions critically, assessing things for ourselves. Drug users are particularly vulnerable to COVID and its new variants. We need to get that vaccine in our arms now. But there is so much disinformation floating around. On episode 22, Dr. Kimberly Sue, Medical Director of the Harm Reduction Coalition, answers our questions about COVID19 and the politics of vaccination.

Canadaland Swap

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 17:44:40 +0000

Something different for you today. We’re swapping shows with the Canadaland Podcast. We’re running one of their episodes, and they’re running one of ours. This is Canadaland’s episode #347 from November - The Brayden Bushby Trial And Pity Porn.

In this episode, Jesse Brown interviews Jody Porter, CBC's national “Indigenous affairs” reporter. Porter reflects on the damage that can come from being a white journalist, telling other people’s stories.

Happy New Year!

Episode 21: Control

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 05:29:51 +0000

https://www.patreon.com/posts/45543505

Activist Kali Sedgemore and anthropologist Danya Fast tell a story about the government’s desire for control—the way its attempts to detain and manage drug users often backfire.

CREDITS

Crackdown is produced on the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

We make this podcast with funds from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. And from our Patreon supporters.

You can find a complete transcript for today's show, as well as photographs and links to further readings, at patreon.com/crackdownpod. While there, consider giving us a few bucks. It helps a lot.

Our editorial board is:

Samona Marsh

Shelda Kastor

Greg Fess

Jeff Louden

Dean Wilson

Al Fowler

Laura Shaver

Rest in Peace Dave Murray and Chereece Keewatin.

Today's episode was conceptualized, written, and produced by Sam Fenn, Alex Kim, Alex de Boer, Danya Fast, Ryan McNeil, and me, Garth Mullins.

Danya Fast’s research is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Vancouver Foundation, The Sick Kids Foundation, and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.

Original score written and performed by Garth Mullins, Sam Fenn, and James Ash.

Our credits music was “Pinkjet Pussy” by Randy and the Pandoras. You can buy this song on 100 Block Rock, a compilation of music produced by Downtown Eastside artists.

Updates

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 20:13:47 +0000

The next episode is delayed a few weeks. In the meantime, here's what we've been up to.

Episode 20: Cut Off

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 16:23:37 +0000

Crackdown is made possible thanks to listener contributions made at https://www.patreon.com/posts/42397641. Thanks for supporting the show!

In 2015, Crackdown editorial board member, Jeff Louden, was on morphine pills for his chronic pain. The medication allowed Jeff to find some stability and avoid Vancouver's increasingly dangerous drug market. But, when Jeff's doctor unexpectedly cut down his medication, he turned to the street to outrun dopesickness.

Five years later, Garth Mullins investigates what happened to Jeff. What can it tell us about North America's so-called "overprescribing crisis?"

Guests

Jeff Louden is a member of Crackdown's editorial board and is from the Curve Lake First Nation.

Laura Shaver is a member of Crackdown's editorial board and is the President of the BC Association of People on Methadone.

Christy Sutherland is a family doctor, the medical director at the Portland Hotel Society, and the Physician Lead at the BC Centre on Substance Use [BCCSU].

Helena Hansen is a doctor and Professor and Chair of Translational Social Science and Health Equity at UCLA.

Bryan Quinby is the host of the podcast Street Fight. You can follow Bryan on twitter here.

Stefan Kertesz is a physician and a Professor in preventative medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. You can follow Dr. Kertesz on twitter and listen to his podcast, On Becoming a Healer here.

Dawn Rae Downton is a writer and journalist. You can read her National Post article, "My Year on Death Row," here.

Episode 19: Losing Hope

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 18:57:44 +0000

August 31, 2020.

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, but so what? Who needs to be made aware? Who among us can’t see the corpses piling up from this endless war?

And just when you think things can't get much bleaker, they do.

On today's show Garth interviews Tim Slaney. Tim is a harm reduction worker at the supervised consumption site in Lethbridge, Alberta - one of the busiest in the world. And the government is shutting it down.

Music from the Arches Mic Club featured in this episode:

"Dream Big" by Lonzo, Leland, and Doobyis

"Fully Beaded" by Lonzo, Doobyis, and Buck

"Back at the Start" by Karley B

"Speak These Words" by Lil Branden, Doobyis, Colicchie, and Lonzo

Episode 18: Blue Metal Fence

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 22:50:04 +0000

The first thing that the plague brought to Vancouver was exile.

In March, People vanished. The city looked like a ghost town. But on the Downtown Eastside, the sidewalks were still packed. People still lining up for food. And lining up to get into supervised injection sites. Vancouver’s biggest tent city--Oppenheimer Park-- had never been so full.

A full transcript of this episode will be available for free soon.

Thank you to the Red Braid Alliance for Stewart Squat audio. Thank you to Global News Vancouver and CTV News Vancouver for newscast audio.

Links

The Homeless Idea podcast https://thehomelessidea.ca/

The Right to Remain research project http://www.righttoremain.ca/

Credits

Crackdown is produced on the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

This month we lost a good friend, warrior and activist - Wade Crawford - from Six Nations. RiP Wade

Our Editorial Board is:

Samona Marsh

Shelda Kastor

Greg Fess

Jeff Louden

Dean Wilson

Al Fowler

Laura Shaver

Dave Murray. RiP Dave...and

Chereece Keewatin, RiP Chereece.

Crackdown’s senior producer is Sam Fenn. Our producers are Lisa Hale and Alexander Kim.

Our science advisor is Ryan McNeil. Assistant Professor & Director of Harm Reduction Research at the Yale School of Medicine.

Garth Mullins is our host, writer and executive producer. You can follow him on twitter @garthmullins.

Original score written and performed by Sam Fenn, James Ash and Garth. Our theme song was written by me and Sam with accompaniment from Dave Gens and Ben Appenheimer.

We make this podcast with funds from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. And from our Patreon supporters.

Stay safe. And keep six.

Episode 17: Class Action

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 00:39:29 +0000

People on methadone in B.C. are suing the government and a pharmaceutical company for decisions which may have contributed to the overdose crisis. Laura Shaver is the lead plaintiff in a new proposed class action lawsuit against British Columbia’s College of Pharmacists, the Ministry of Health, and the pharmaceutical corporation Mallinckrodt. Laura - who is also on Crackdown’s editorial board - may wind up representing all of the province’s methadone users. She’s seeking damages for harms related to the switch from compound methadone to Methadose in 2014.

You can find a transcript for today’s episode here. Crackdown believes that transparency is a cornerstone of journalism. For that reason, we have made our transcripts as detailed as possible, with footnotes sourcing how and where we have found our information. We also highlight the sections of our episodes that contain analysis, opinion or advocacy.

Credits

Crackdown is produced on the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.Our Editorial Board is: Samona Marsh, Shelda Kastor, Greg Fess, Jeff Louden, Dean Wilson, Al Fowler, and Laura Shaver. Rest in Peace Dave Murray and Chereece Keewatin.

Crackdown’s senior producer is Sam Fenn. Our producers are Lisa Hale and Alexander Kim. Our science advisor is Ryan McNeil, Assistant Professor & Director of Harm Reduction Research at the Yale School of Medicine.

Today’s episode was fact-checked by Polly Leger.Garth Mullins is Crackdown’s host, writer and executive producer. You can follow Garth on twitter @garthmullins.Original score written and performed by Sam Fenn, James Ash and Garth Mullins. Our theme song was written by Garth and Sam with accompaniment from Dave Gens and Ben Appenheimer.

Crackdown is produced with funds from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and our Patreon supporters.

Episode 16: Goodbye Dave

Tue, 19 May 2020 07:33:54 +0000

We were working on an episode about the housing crisis during the pandemic. But a couple weeks ago, Crackdown lost another member of our editorial board: Dave Murray.

We can’t all get together to mourn him right now, to remember him and tell stories. Like we did with Chereece last year. I know we’ll get to it eventually, when the quarantine lifts, but until then, we’ll do it here.

Dave Murray was a veteran drug user activist. He was a mentor to the next generation of organizers like me. He’s pretty much the reason why there is a prescription heroin program in Vancouver today. And he was our friend.

Dave was an intellectual - wIth taped up glasses and newspaper tucked under his arm. But he was also bold as hell.

He helped us launch this podcast. In fact, Dave was there before we even had a name. He was a soft-spoken guy, and he made sure Crackdown got off on the right foot.

Safe journey home, Dave. Take care, buddy.

Crackdown is produced on the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Our Editorial Board is: Samona MarshShelda KastorGreg FessJeff LoudenDean WilsonAl FowlerLaura Shaver

Chereece Keewatin, RiP Chereece...and

Dave Murray. Good-bye Dave.

You can read obituaries by Travis Lupick and also by Guy Felicella, Dean Wilson and Matt Bonn.

Ann Livingston has created a Facebook page with lots of Dave’s speeches

Thanks to Gordon Katic and Travis Lupick for tape of Dave gathered in 2017 for a documentary called The Heroin Clinic.

All the links are on our webpage.

You can support us at Patreon.com/crackdownpod

Episode 15: Apocalypse Prescribing

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 01:34:12 +0000

The government has finally agreed to provide us with a safe, medical alternative to black market drugs. On Episode 15, we dig deep into the new policy and tell the story of advocacy that made this possible.

WORKS CITED

BC Centre for Disease Control: Harm reduction information for people who use substances in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.

BC Centre for Disease Control: Weekly overdose data, March 22-March 28, 2020

Canadian Association of People who Use Drugs. Safe Supply Concept Document. February 2019

CBC News: B.C. releases plan to provide safe supply of drugs during COVID-19 pandemic. March 26, 2020

Coronavirus Is Leading to Shortages of Fentanyl And Meth. Deborah Bonello. Vice.com. March 19, 2020

COVID-19: Open letter from DTES frontline workers to Horgan, Dix, Henry, Daly, Stewart, and Darcy—we need more, now. By Concerned registered nurses and frontline workers of the DTES. Georgia Straight, March 31, 2020.

Fleming, T., Barker, A., Ivsins, A. et al. Stimulant safe supply: a potential opportunity to respond to the overdose epidemic. Harm Reduct J 17, 6 (2020).

CREDITS

Crackdown is produced on the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.Our Editorial Board is:Samona MarshShelda KastorGreg FessJeff LoudenDean WilsonDave MurrayAl FowlerLaura ShaverRIP Chereece Keewatin.

Crackdown’s senior producer is Sam Fenn. Our producers are Lisa Hale and Alexander Kim. With help from Polly Leger.

Our science advisor is Ryan McNeil. Assistant Professor & Director of Harm Reduction Research in the Yale School of Medicine.Garth Mullins is Crackdown’s host, writer and executive producer. You can follow him on twitter @garthmullins.Original score written and performed by Sam Fenn, James Ash, Kai Paulson and Garth Mullins. Our theme song was written by Garth and Sam with accompaniment from Dave Gens and Ben Appenheimer.We make this podcast with funds from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. And from you, our Patreon supporters.

Stay safe. Keep six.

Episode 14: Emergency Measures

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 23:48:46 +0000

Governments are taking drastic measures to try to slow down the spread of #COVID-19 - declaring emergencies, shutting down businesses and sealing borders. But what about drug users? We have been facing a deadly public health emergency for years, with no drastic measures taken. Will they forget us again this time?

Since the first coronavirus case was confirmed in British Columbia, around 150 people have died from a contaminated drug supply. Four people have died from COVID-19. Now we face both crises at once.

Many drug users in our community are middle aged. And the life can really put years on you. Many of us have COPD or are immunocompromised. The pandemic could cut through us like a scythe.

Episode 13: Someone Else’s Problem

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 19:36:13 +0000

https://www.patreon.com/posts/34599640

Crackdown’s senior producer is Sam Fenn. Our producers are Lisa Hale and Alexander Kim. This month we had production help from Alex de Boer and Polly Leger.

Our science advisor is Ryan McNeil. Assistant Professor & Director of Harm Reduction Research in the Yale School of Medicine.Garth Mullins is Crackdown’s host, writer and executive producer. You can follow him on twitter @garthmullins.Original score written and performed by Sam Fenn, James Ash and Garth Mullins. Our theme song was written by Garth and Sam with accompaniment from Dave Gens and Ben Appenheimer.We make this podcast with funds from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. And from you, our Patreon supporters.

Episode 12: Love in a State of Emergency

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 00:32:06 +0000

You can't understand Canada's overdose crisis without knowing the truth about this country - and that’s the story of colonization: a centuries-long effort to steal land and erase Indigenous peoples.

In April 2019, Garth and Thunder Bay podcast creator Ryan McMahon were chatting on the phone. Ryan said that some Indigenous communities are reticent about harm reduction and that Crackdown should look at that.

We've been talking about making this episode since our first editorial board meeting in 2018, when Chereece Keewatin, Shelda Kastor and Jeff Louden talked about how the overdose crisis affects them as Indigenous people. Since then Chereece died - and we blame racist drug war policies for that.

Shelda guided the work on this episode, mapping the connections between abstinence programs, the Red Road and Indigenous approaches harm reduction.

A full transcript of this episode will be available in a few days.

Episode 11: The Year That Nothing Happened

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 06:07:08 +0000

https://www.patreon.com/posts/32665947

Dean Wilson—a Crackdown editorial board member and elder statesman of Vancouver's drug user movement—thinks 2019 might be his most disappointing year as an activist. “We’ve accomplished absolutely fucking nothing, I’m incredibly depressed about it,” he recently told Garth Mullins.

“2019, will be known to me as the year that nothing happened.”

Dean’s right. We haven’t had a big win in a while. And 2019 feels a bit like a depressing blur. But it was also a year where we fought back. In the last Crackdown episode of the year, we tell four stories about surviving the drug war. Each story is one small moment--something that might otherwise be forgotten. Maybe these stories can tell us something about where we are now—and what we need to do in 2020.

Episode 10: Passing the Marker

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 09:22:00 +0000

Episode 10: Passing the Marker https://www.patreon.com/posts/31903838

In 2018, Scotland had a higher rate of drug-related deaths than Canada or the U.S. -- even though fentanyl hasn’t taken over the U.K.’s drug supply. In Episode 10, CRACKDOWN crosses the Atlantic to try and figure out what's going on.

Episode 9: Change Intolerance Part 2

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 23:42:52 +0000

Crackdown investigates the relationship between the BC government and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. Many people on methadone complain that Methadose® "doesn't have legs." Why hasn't the government provided them with a more effective option?

https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-9-change-31208832

https://crackdownpod.com/

(Rebroadcast) Episode 2: Change Intolerance

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 00:43:48 +0000

We don’t have a full documentary this month - for a pretty good reason.

Our senior producer and his partner had a baby a bit over a week ago. Congratulations Sam and Patricia. It's so nice to have a little new life - especially when things have been bleak.

Sam and I have been working on something you’ll hear next month. A follow up to episode 2 - “Change Intolerance.” In that episode, we explained how everyone on methadone got switched onto a big pharma formulation in 2014. That left loads of us dope sick and topping up from a contaminated drug supply.

Overdoses and deaths followed and I’m pretty sure we’ve lost thousands this way.

Sam & I followed up Laura Shaver’s big question from that episode - Why? Why did the government make this decision? Why didn’t they listen to us when we said it was a mistake?

Crackdown requested documents under the Freedom of Information Act. Much of what we got back was redacted - censored. But the documents that we CAN see - they tell a story. We’ll have that for you at the end of October.

And in November, we’ll have a documentary on the crisis in Scotland. We were in Glasgow in late August.

Finally a bit of personal news. Back in the day, I messed up school because I spent all my time grinding to get up cash for heroin. This month I went back. I’m taking another run at higher education. So in a few years, hopefully I’ll get to say to cops: “Actually, that’s DOCTOR Mullins, officer.” Fingers crossed.

See you soon. Keep six.

Episode 8: The Cost of Cereal

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 23:59:18 +0000

Men are dying at a higher rate than women during the opioid crisis, which means women sometimes get left out of the conversation. On Episode 8, we go to SisterSpace, North America’s first women-only safe consumption site.

A full transcript for this episode will be available in a few days.

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. Events are taking place around the world. Check out Overdoseday.com.

If you want to learn how to use Naloxone to reverse an overdose, you can get training here: naloxonetraining.com

CALL TO ACTION

If you want to see more funding to extend hours of overdose prevention sites like SisterSpace, write to The City of Vancouver, Vancouver Coastal Health, and the B.C. Ministry of Health.CREDITS

Garth Mullins is Crackdown‘s host and executive producer.

Crackdown is produced by Alexander Kim, Polly Leger, Lisa Hale, Sam Fenn, and Gordon Katic.

Thank you to SisterSpace for having us.

Crackdown’s Editorial Board is: Samona Marsh, Shelda Kastor, Greg Fess, Jeff Louden, Dean Wilson, Laura Shaver, Dave Murray, and Al Fowler. Rest In Peace Chereece Keewatin.

Our scientific advisers are Ryan McNeil and Jade Boyd from the BC Centre on Substance Use and the Department of Medicine at the University of Britsh Columbia.

Original score written and performed by Sam Fenn, Jacob Dryden, Kai Paulson, James Ash and Garth Mullins. Our theme song was written by Garth and Sam with accompaniment from Dave Gens and Ben Appenheimer.

Funding for Crackdown comes from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

You can follow us on twitter @crackdownpod.

You can send us an email at info@crackdowpod.com.

New episodes air on the last Wednesday of the month.

Episode 7: Stand Down

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 03:07:00 +0000

The Vancouver Police say they’re for harm reduction, but everyone we talk to in the Downtown Eastside says otherwise. On Episode 7 of Crackdown, Garth asks the cops to stand down.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-7-stand-28810985

https://crackdownpod.com/

Episode 6: Room 821

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 07:42:11 +0000

https://www.patreon.com/posts/28122736

What happens when your options are being kicked out on the street or living in a room filled with mould, trash and rats? Episode 6 of Crackdown looks at how the housing and overdose crises are intertwined, and what happens when tenants fight back.

A full transcript for this episode will be available in a few days.

Bonus: The Palace

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 18:34:36 +0000

https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-palace-27922625

https://crackdownpod.com/

This month Crackdown is exploring the pernicious connections between North America's overdose crisis and the housing crisis. Next week's show will be a full documentary. This week, Crackdown editorial board member Al Fowler tells the story of Vancouver's infamous The Palace Hotel and the tyrannical landlord who ran the place.

Additional Reading

Cole, Yolande. "Vancouver non-profit group to take over two Downtown Eastside buildings." The Georgia Straight. August 18, 2011.
Massah, Sarah. "Bullied tenants forced to buy methadone from slumlord: claim." CTV News Vancouver. August 19, 2011.
Harbottle, Tyler. "Palace of Hell." The Tyee. August 24, 2011.
PIVOT Legal. Press Release: "Eleven more tenants come forward in Wolsey Hotel Case." November 22, 2011.
Fleming et al. (2019) Housing in Crisis: A qualitative study of the socio-legal contexts of residential evictions in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. International Journal of Drug Policy.
Collins et al. (2018) Surviving the housing crisis: Social violence and the production of evictions among women who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Health & Place.
Kennedy et al. (2017) Residential eviction and exposure to violence among people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada. International Journal of Drug Policy.

Credits

Garth Mullins is Crackdown‘s host and executive producer.

Al Fowler is this month’s lead editorial consultant.

Crackdown’s Editorial Board is: Samona Marsh, Shelda Kastor, Greg Fess, Jeff Louden, Dean Wilson, Laura Shaver, Dave Murray, Al Fowler, and Chereece Keewatin (RIP).

Crackdown is produced by Garth Mullins, Sam Fenn, Alexander Kim, Lisa Hale and Gordon Katic. Our scientific adviser is Ryan McNeil from the BC Centre on Substance Use.

The music for this episode was written by Garth Mullins, Sam Fenn, and Jacob Dryden.

Thanks to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for ongoing funding to Crackdown.

You can follow us on twitter @crackdownpod.

You can send us an email at info@crackdowpod.com.

Episode 5: The Portugal Paradox

Wed, 29 May 2019 22:44:58 +0000

https://www.patreon.com/posts/27226897

A full transcript of this episode will be available for free in a couple days.

In 2001, Portugal decriminalized the simple possession of drugs. Ever since it has become a beacon for progressives, activists, and drug users around the world. On episode 5 of Crackdown, Garth goes to Portugal to figure out whether the country has found a solution to North America's overdose crisis.

Credits

Garth Mullins is Crackdown‘s host and executive producer.

Sam Fenn and Lisa Hale were this month’s lead producer.

Crackdown’s Editorial Board is: Samona Marsh, Shelda Kastor, Greg Fess, Jeff Louden, Dean Wilson, Laura Shaver, Dave Murray, and Al Fowler. Rest In Peace Chereece Keewatin.

Crackdown is produced by Garth Mullins, Sam Fenn, Alexander Kim, Lisa Hale and Gordon Katic.

Our scientific adviser is Ryan McNeil from the BC Centre on Substance Use.

Special thanks to journalist and translator Enrique Pinto-Coelho for his help telling this story. You can follow Enrique on twitter here and you can hire him here.

Thanks as well to the Portuguese Canadian journalist Susana Ferreira. Check out here longform piece about Portugal's drug reforms in The Guardian here.

The music for this episode was written by Garth Mullins, Sam Fenn, and Jacob Dryden.

Thanks as well to Rui Coimbra, Diana Castro, Renato Pinto, Sara Tuppen Veloso, Joana Canedo, Sofia Pereira, and Sonia Ferreira for helping our team while we were in Portugal.

Funding for Crackdown comes from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

You can follow us on twitter @crackdownpod.

You can send us an email at info@crackdowpod.com.

New episodes air on the last Wednesday of the month.

Episode 4: Blame

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 01:02:11 +0000

https://www.patreon.com/posts/26341890

https://crackdownpod.com/

Crackdown is produced on the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

Garth Mullins is Crackdown‘s host and executive producer.

Alexander Kim was this month’s lead producer.

Crackdown’s Editorial Board is: Samona Marsh, Shelda Kastor, Greg Fess, Jeff Louden, Dean Wilson, Laura Shaver, Dave Murray, Al Fowler, and Chereece Keewatin (RIP).

Crackdown is produced by Alexander Kim, Lisa Hale, Sam Fenn and Gordon Katic. This month our lead producer was Alexander Kim.

Our science advisor is Ryan McNeil, lead of the Qualitative & Community-Based Research Program of the BC Centre on Substance Use. Ryan is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia.

Thank you to Emily Rendell-Watson and Marta Ligocki at CJSW 90.9 FM in Calgary.

Original score written and performed by Sam Fenn, Jacob Dryden, Kai Paulson and Garth Mullins. Our theme song was written by Sam and I with accompaniment from Dave Gens and Ben Appenheimer.

We make this podcast with funds from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. We are also supported by our listeners through Patreon.

You can follow us on twitter @crackdownpod.

You can send us an email at info@crackdowpod.com.

New episodes air on the last Wednesday of the month.

Episode 3: Unsanctioned

Sat, 30 Mar 2019 20:34:49 +0000

Vancouver has become famous for Insite--North America's first supervised injection facility. iIt's one of the more exciting (and effective) drug policy interventions in the world. However, most people don't know the story activism and civil disobedience that preceded it.

Episode 2: Change Intolerance

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 21:32:23 +0000

https://crackdownpod.com/podcast/episode-2-change-intolerance/

EPISODE 2: CHANGE INTOLERANCE

British Columbia switched nearly 15,000 methadone patients to a new formulation called Methadose in 2014. In Crackdown's second episode, Garth Mullins, Laura Shaver, and their colleagues at the British Columbia Association of People on Methadone investigate what happened next.

Crackdown is hosted, written, and produced by Garth Mullins.

It is also produced by Sam Fenn, Alexander Kim, Lisa Hale and Gordon Katic. Our scientific adviser is Ryan McNeil from the BC Centre on Substance Use.

Episode 2's lead editorial consultant was Laura Shaver and lead producer was Sam Fenn.

Music in today's show was written by Garth Mullins, Sam Fenn, Jacob Dryden and "Ray."

Episode 1: War Correspondents

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 03:15:24 +0000

Drug users are the experts. We’ve survived. We know policy better than policy-makers. We know law better than lawmakers. We know pharmaceuticals better than pharmacists. We know nobody’s coming to save us. So we gotta save ourselves.

Trailer

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 21:38:05 +0000

/// Episode 1 of Crackdown launches January 30. ///

The ongoing overdose crisis is an unprecedented public health emergency. Thousands are dying while activists and researchers call for urgent change. Government isn’t doing enough to address the crisis, and the media is letting them get away with it. So, we're making our own media.

CRACKDOWN is a new, monthly podcast about drugs, drug policy and the drug war led by drug user activists and supported by research. Each episode will tell the story of a community fighting for their lives. It’s also about solutions, justice for those we have lost, and saving lives.

The host and executive producer of CRACKDOWN is Garth Mullins, an award-winning documentarian and longtime community organizer. Garth has been an opioid user for years, injecting heroin daily all the way through the last overdose crisis, and is now on methadone. The podcast is led by an editorial board made up of some of Vancouver's most experienced drug user activists. CRACKDOWN is undertaken in partnership with the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use and produced by Cited Media Productions on the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-waututh) Nations.