I get called less by journalists since the moral panic against harm reduction got started a couple years back. Even the good ones stand a little further back. Plus, we can no longer get meetings with cabinet ministers. These are clearly the least important metrics of backlash, but there it is.

My book, Crackdown, is a finalist for the BC and Yukon Book Prize (Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize). There are four other finalists. We'll find out who wins in the fall. bcyukonbookprizes.com/2026/04/14/a...

Congratulations, @avilewis.ca. I wasn't in Winnipeg this morning, but I kinda wish I was. What an amazing campaign.

As the years go by, past police operations against Indigenous people and social movements are slowly exposed. And the spying continues. If you dream of a different world, and manage to actually do something about it, they probably got a file on you. www.cbc.ca/news/indigen...

Today, I voted for @avilewis.ca to lead the federal NDP. I never been a member of a political party before. I joined to do this one thing. I want the NDP to be a fighting force again. If you're an @ndp.ca member, vote for Avi. If you ain't, you can still support the campaign lewisforleader.ca

"To whom are you accountable?" A question almost never put to me in good faith. But, it's nonetheless important to me. As Exec Producer of @crackdownpod.bsky.social I'm accountable to the Editorial Board. As a drug user activist I'm accountable to VANDU members & the drug user movement.

I get that this is some pretty low politics, but do we have to use "drug users" as an insult? I'd say "ABC hack" is probably a bigger diss. @stephenquinn.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Survival never goes out of style

Speaking as one of many “heroes at the methadone clinics”, the whole waiting room cringes when that Kid Rock song comes on.

Just listened to latest episode of @garthmullins.bsky.social’s @crackdownpod.bsky.social Hard to listen to, but recommended 👇 podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/c...

I endorse @avilewis.ca for leader of the @ndp.ca because we need leaders who are willing to take the NDP back to its working class, socialist roots-who & are willing to take money and power away from the people who are hoarding both while the rest of us bury our friends.

Listening to David Bowie narrate Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf with my baby. He's into it. Hunky Dory next, I reckon. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vr4...

Crackdown on the shelves at #Kerrisdale London Drugs!! @garthmullins.bsky.social … you’ve arrived! 😃🤣

We Refuse: Health Workers Against Involuntary Care is now public. @hrna.bsky.social and DSDP are circulating a joint statement opposing BC’s plan to expand involuntary drug treatment. This approach is ineffective, increases overdose risk, violates autonomy, and harms marginalized communities.

Bollocks! Drug seizures lead to MORE overdoses. During Task Force Barrage, I reversed 3 ODs. At one, a cop threatened to arrest me for being in the way - after I saved the guy. Our Mayor is full of shite. www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

I rocked my 6 month old baby as I learned another recent bleak war acronym: WCNSF - "Wounded child, no surviving family" Such a common occurrence they needed an abbreviation. I held my baby as the genocide rumbled on and felt fucking useless. #Gaza

In this past decade of mass death, there were timid steps in the right direction - at first. But the most coherent, passionate response from the state (and its various apparatus) has been to smash DULF, hire more cops & roll back what little harm reduction we had won.

New on our PODCAST: SFU prof and researcher Kora DeBeck joins us with her comments on the expansion of involuntary care in B.C. @garthmullins.bsky.social @canadahealthwatch.ca @sudubc.bsky.social @msthpetra.bsky.social @koradebeck.bsky.social tiny.cc/gf7u001

DULF case in court today. Judge: “everyone knew what was happening. It seems like these 2 [Nyx & Kalicum] are being hung out to dry. As soon as politicians started complaining, all of a sudden VPD-which before was fine-suddenly was not fine.” drugdatadecoded.ca/everyone-kne...

We started DULF because we knew nobody was coming to save us, so we had to save ourselves. It worked. But right wing politicians made themselves famous off scapegoating us. The government de-funded us. The cops raided us. But our day in court is here. thetyee.ca/News/2025/10...

Wear with loafers or derbies? @dieworkwear.bsky.social

I’ve been invited to a writers festival. I’m gonna need a tweed jacket with elbow patches. I believe they are mandatory.

My 5 month old baby started hugging me last week. I no longer need opioids.

I’m sorry B-52s, but your love shack sounds like a pretty rancid joint. All the backing vocals in the universe can’t compensate for the couch in there

Just finished Crackdown by @garthmullins.bsky.social It’s an essential piece of history and good sense policy on the failures of the drug war. I highly recommend to anyone, especially educators. www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/700597...

Both the poison drug crisis & the climate crisis were declared emergencies. Both have been met with half-measures that fail while the far-right mobilizes and governments offer funding cuts and increased police budgets. Listen now: www.climateemergencyunit.ca/podcast

I was honoured to talk with @sethdklein.bsky.social & @anjaliappadurai.bsky.social about the interconnections between drug war & the climate apocalypse. It's all necropolitics.

VPD has zero credibility in reporting violent crime statistics. By selective & sensational use of stats, they helped their friends get elected to city council. Now Task Force Barrage is out of gas & VPD wants more money. dailyhive.com/vancouver/va...

I am honoured to be invited by Fr. Bill Mok to give the keynote address at Together From Stigma to Support conference at St. Alban's Church in Richmond, BC on Saturday. Everyone welcome.

New VANDU member joined up.

In the hi tech dystopian futures imagined in film and TV, space travel is possible but somehow not a fluorescent light that doesn't flicker.

Flight attendants at Air Canada have shown workers acting in solidarity can defy a crackdown on their rights—and strike for a better deal, including ending unpaid work. As Carney prepares major cuts and attacks on public sector workers, it’s a model for bold labour action. youtu.be/f08RS-o5ohk

Amazing! Hope you like it, Peter. Thanks

Solidarity with CUPE flight attendants. All workers benefit from their defiance of back to work orders. Their fight is our fight.

My aunt was the 1st Chinese Canadian woman elected to public office in British Columbia. She died over the weekend. Her & her mother were well-known activists in the Vancouver Chinese community. They brought our family together with food & love. My baby got to meet her in her last few days 💔

Just finished reading @garthmullins.bsky.social extraordinary memoir Crackdown. If you are looking to better understand addiction and the insanity of the war on drugs, I highly recommend it. Fantastic writing & deep insights.

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...

🏳️‍🌈☂️You can’t celebrate Pride while leaving sex workers behind. Pride was born from resistance. Queer & trans people-including sex workers-fought unjust laws. Not just a parade. #WISH

Trump's order to erase, banish, incarcerate anyone who can't pay North America's skyrocketing rents. Deep criminalization of homeless & drug users. This is what fascism looks like. Jurisdictions to the north try variations of bits of this, dream of the whole regime www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Please help get this account some legs. Concerned, healthcare professionals, speaking out against involuntary care.

VPD has been seizing dope since 1908. Busting heroin led to fentanyl. Busting fentanyl is leading to benzodope & tranqdope. Violence flares as new dealers battle to replace those arrested. The cycle will continue until cops stand down & we all try something different. globalnews.ca/video/113030...

When I worked at Lupin Gold Mine back in the day, there was an annual day of friendly competitions. The mine rescue guys were always top notch. I hope these guys get out safe. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Everyone on AC 112 to Toronto today is reading the brilliant @garthmullins.bsky.social best selling book @Crackdown. In stores now!!

RiP Ozzy 🤘

Decriminalization was gutted by panicked politicians. There was no increased public use. But there was increased moral panic. Today several drug user groups are in court. We’re asking judges to review that decision. Wish us luck.

"Members of the research team heard about frequent unannounced police visits to local [Ontario] harm reduction programs." "[P]olice would enter the premises, search clients' belongings, interrogate staff, and at times arrest service users." #Ontario #Canada #Drugs #Healthcare #Policing

"Gotta get up, listen to me / Clappa your hands, stompa your feet." No. Pop songs are not the boss of me.

filtermag.org/garth-mullin... "I feel like Crackdown’s editorial board are the leaders of Canada’s drug policy family." So lucky to interview @garthmullins.bsky.social for my latest in @filtermag.bsky.social...check it out below or buy the book wherever you buy your books!

Since this happened one week ago, I have heard from several people that cops in Vancouver are showing up to ODs again and interfering with efforts to resuscitate people. @crackdownpod.bsky.social will be reporting on this. Stay tuned. Cops don't go to heart attacks. Stand down.

🚨Bad Dope Alert - this is a new one to me... Multiple samples (pink chunk, beige chunk, beige granules) sold as down in DTES tested positive for piperidone, a precursor chemical used to make fentanyl, and negative for fentanyl itself. Substance may cause dizziness, nausea and abdominal pain.