Crackdown

Latest Episodes:

Episode 23: Cop Free Future Apr 02, 2021

Show notes

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 Feb 04, 2021

Show notes

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 Dec 31, 2020

Show notes

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 Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

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 Nov 26, 2020

Show notes

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

Episode 20: Cut Off Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

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 Aug 31, 2020

Show notes

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 Jul 16, 2020

Show notes

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 Jun 12, 2020

Show notes

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 May 19, 2020

Show notes

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