VPD was aware of the intense public interest – and also of the “fear and anxiety” news of stranger assaults was causing in 2022. VPD issued at least 52 releases mentioning stranger assaults, but provided no updated data about the frequency of these crimes. www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

Full house at BCAPOM today for a listening party: @crackdownpod.bsky.social ep37 “Drugstore Cowboy” about the moral panic around “diversion” (AKA Sharing) www.crackdownpod.com/episodes/epi...

I owe this story to the people I interviewed, including Esther Tailfeathers, @ehyshka.bsky.social, David Hodgins, recovery centre workers and esp @harmreduxnurse.bsky.social & her son Brandon of @4bharmredux.bsky.social. My story commission was donated to 4B to help B’s remarkable stabilization… 1/

And if you want an update on how Brandon & Angie are doing, listen to @crackdownpod.bsky.social’s recent episode, Get Sober or Get Dead — the first Crackdown episode centred in Alberta. It’s beautiful, words can’t really do it justice: 2/ www.crackdownpod.com/episodes/epi...

🚨NEW EPISODE 🚨 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. www.crackdownpod.com/episodes/epi...

Just narcanned a guy on Hawks & Hastings. Took 4 ampules & 10 min. Thought he wasn’t coming back. Scared the shit out of me. Cop yelled at me: “Get back!! I won’t tell you again!!” I said, “I was the first responder here. I saved his life. Just want him to see a friendly face.” 🖕Task Force Barrage

Methadone is a well studied, safe, subsidized, pharmaceutical opioid. A pretty good substitute for heroin. But street dope is stronger now, so we need stronger substitutes.

“Methadone saved my life," @garthmullins.bsky.social told Filter. "I no longer had to spend all my time and money outrunning dopesickness. I could get on with doing the other things I wanted.”

Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel acknowledges lack of evidence on forced addictions treatment as B.C., Alberta expand it www.msn.com/en-ca/news/c...

I love this episode of @crackdownpod.bsky.social. We can heal broken relationships, and people do recover, with love, harm reduction, radical acceptance, and care. @4bharmredux.bsky.social www.crackdownpod.com/episodes/epi...

per usual—as the political class creates spectacle from the toxic drug crisis, @crackdownpod.bsky.social shows us the intimate realities. important new episode: www.crackdownpod.com/episodes/epi... ft. @momsstoptheharm.bsky.social @4bharmredux.bsky.social

Drop everything - the first @crackdownpod.bsky.social episode centred in Alberta just dropped www.crackdownpod.com

Alberta is the involuntary treatment capital of Canada. On episode 54, we meet Angie & her son Brandon. When Brandon got wired as a teen, Angie had a difficult choice to make: should she force him to sober up? If she did, what would happen to their relationship? www.crackdownpod.com/episodes/epi...

Honoured and privileged to join the @crackdownpod.bsky.social editorial board today as they put final touches on the #AB episode. You will want to listen when it drops later today.

“Nobody thinks it’s a good idea,” Dave Webb, of the Surrey Union of Drug Users, tells @godfrey.bsky.social. “I thought in treatment we were supposed to reconnect with our loved ones and friends. If we’re putting somebody in segregation, how is that going to work?”

I am very glad to hear the federal minister of health say that forced treatment does not work. Now all the provincial health ministers gotta listen. @crackdownpod.bsky.social will have an ep on this out in a few days. cfjctoday.com/2025/06/03/h...

I'm thrilled so many profs use @crackdownpod.bsky.social episodes in their curriculum. Might I suggest including my book by the same name? Learning outcomes include: harm reduction, decrim, methadone, safe supply, HIV, PTSD, sex work, advocacy, research, etc www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/700597...

Plenty of dramatic things happen at @crackdownpod.bsky.social Editorial Board / meetings. Too often we talk about death. But today Samona & Laura delivered puppies.

I am honoured that Grace Chen wants to read my book. Grace runs the Ovaltine Cafe. She's been cooking good, affordable breakfasts for me & Jeff & the whole @crackdownpod.bsky.social team for years. She has much love for the DTES and it loves her right back. ❤️☕️🍳🥓

I’m reading Crackdown, by @garthmullins.bsky.social Episode 4 of @crackdownpod.bsky.social also starts with Nick’s funeral. The episode was the first time I had the opportunity to work with Garth and the crew. I’ve learned much from him and crackdown since. www.crackdownpod.com/episodes/i7y...

Trey Helten was nothing less than a hero. He saved hundreds of lives by reversing ODs, driving people to treatment & just being kind. Trey was a friend to Crackdown and appeared on the show twice. We'll never forget you, Trey. Rest in power. rb.gy/ztwctt

After waiting in 2hr lines to vote, Vancouver chose to elect a socialist to city council. And the head of the police union lost. Huge congratulations to @seanorr.bsky.social from VANDU, BCAPOM and @crackdownpod.bsky.social. We know you got our six.

New Episode: Goodby Shelda. Shelda Kastor was a hero who dedicated her life to helping vulnerable people in Vancouver. She was also our friend. In Episode 51 of Crackdown we say goodbye to Shelda. We will never forget you. 💔 www.crackdownpod.com/episodes/epi...

This Saturday, April 5th, let's evict Ken Sim. Vote for @copevancouver.bsky.social's @seanorr.bsky.social! Sean's a working class candidate, fighting for safe supply + real housing solutions. All you need is ID & a prescription bottle will do. Vote 8am-8pm @ Carnegie Hall (or find a location online)

We are very sad to say good bye to Shelda Kastor. She died Tuesday. Shelda was from the Ochapowace Nation in Saskatchewan. She was part of @crackdownpod.bsky.social from day 1 and active in BCAPOM, WHARS & VANDU for many years. She was always happy to see you and had a hug for everyone. 💔 RiP

Shelda co-produced and is interviewed on this @crackdownpod.bsky.social episode about colonization and the drug war. 💔 www.crackdownpod.com/episodes/e48...

Holding Hope Connect with @garthmullins.bsky.social, author of the book "Crackdown - Surviving and Resisting the War on Drugs" and host of @crackdownpod.bsky.social. April 13 at 1pm PT Presented by @momsstoptheharm.bsky.social. Registration required: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Don’t bemoan, and the lack of left-wing media in Canada. Fund it. Support @crackdownpod.bsky.social. We have been mapping the right wing backlash since day one. Our movement journalism needs you! www.patreon.com/crackdownpod

Another story well covered by @crackdownpod.bsky.social - lots of stimulant users accidentally consume fentanyl in the course of their habits and suffer poisonings as a result. This is part of why fentanyl and methamphetamine or cocaine are frequently found together in coroner reports.

"It is better to keep fighting than let grief drown you!" A deeply personal and emotionally raw episode of @crackdownpod.bsky.social with @garthmullins.bsky.social, featuring a @momsstoptheharm.bsky.social Healing Hears facilitator, and members of VANDU. <3 www.crackdownpod.com/episodes/epi...

🚨New @crackdownpod.bsky.social ep. Trudeau's gone, but what's his legacy for drug users? 50,000 dead. Those losses left us bereft, haunted & traumatized. We all have PTSD. We all have ghosts. Our movements are disorganized, with missing leaders & empty chairs. www.crackdownpod.com/episodes/epi...

🚨New Crackdown Episode!🚨 Now that Mark Carney has replaced Justin Trudea as Canada’s PM, we look back at the impact of the Trudeau years on drug users. What has over 50k preventable deaths done to our movement and our lives? www.crackdownpod.com/episodes/epi...

If news is too much take time out and listen to this @crackdownpod.bsky.social where @garthmullins.bsky.social talks about his own journey, how methadone keeps him well and why we need to legally regulate all substances. Originally aired on CBC “OnDrugs”. podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/c...

“Since 2016, Edmonton has lost nearly 4000 of our neighbours, friends, and family members to toxic drugs and continues to bear the highest rate of drug poisoning fatalities in Alberta. “ Listen to the experts - people who use drugs! #Yeg #yegcc #abpoli edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...

Mark your calendars, Vancouver. I will be showing some of the photography from my series about the overdose crisis in March.

“The deaths come from street dope, not from pharmacies” @garthmullins.bsky.social These new measures by the #BC government will mean more funerals for BC families. #BCpoli #DrugSky

The BC NDP shutters the Ministry of Mental Health & Addictions, then quietly gives new Health Minister mandate to "reduce the population level frequency of opioid prescriptions." Govt cut offs (not Purdue) got us into this toxic drug crisis back in the 2010s: t.co/DY3X8ALjkv

Another troubling development in BC as Eby sends his mandate letter to the new Minister of Health.

Community members came together in Victoria on Saturday to honour the life and legacy of Shea Smith, an outspoken housing justice advocate who was killed at the cross-sections of the drug poisoning crisis and bylaw policies that criminalize homelessness. #yyj #stopthesweeps

New BC Coroner is stopping monthly toxic drug death reports. This is a bad idea. What's next? Are they gonna declare the public health emergency over due to lack of interest? www.timescolonist.com/local-news/n...

Because the supply is entirely unregulated, people using one type of drug are forced to use multiple types. This was covered in a few @crackdownpod.bsky.social episodes, incl maybe The Bench E46 re: accidental opioid deaths during stimulant use in context w/ drinking. www.crackdownpod.com/episodes

A deeply personal episode that had me in tears at the end. It’s a gift to have the recorded voice or video of the people we love, but also haunting. We need to keep them here with us. Stay safe - don’t use alone! 💜

New 🧪 report out from our team. We conducted an epidemiological survey of 499 people who use drugs in central Edmonton to assess their health, wellbeing, and service needs. #yeg

Vancouver is the best place. A scenic, world-class city. But reaching the 'good life' has never been harder. If you haven't already, check out our newest ep, featuring Danya Fast & Sarah West. They tell us about how Vancouver has gotten more dangerous—especially for young drug users. rb.gy/lr48gv

🚨New @crackdownpod.bsky.social episode. Are we movement journalism for the struggle or are we just documenting the death of an entire community - comrade by comrade? Are we writing another epitaph with each episode? www.crackdownpod.com/episodes/epi...