Podcast
Crackdown
Hosted by Crackdown Productions · EN
The drug war, covered by drug users as war correspondents. Crackdown is a 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.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 57: We Ain’t Dead Yet
1w ago00:48:01Tap to summarizeDescription 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. <span style="fo...
Transcribe →Episode 56: Extraordinary Circumstances
Jan 3000:53:17Tap to summarizeIt’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. Share Post reddit <svg version="1.1" id="Layer_1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" width="16px" height="11.9px" viewBox="-1214.1 1563.9 16 11....
Transcribe →Episode 55: The Man in the High Castle
Jul 1, 202500:43:25Tap to summarizeWith 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. Share Post reddit <path d="M-1214.1,1565.2v1l8,4l8-4v-1c0-0.7-0.6-1.3-1.3-1.3h-13.4C-1213.5,1563.9-1214.1,1564.4-1214.1,1565.2z M-1214.1,1567.4v7.1c0,0.7,0.6,1.3...
Transcribe →Episode 54: Get Sober or Get Dead
Jun 4, 202500:49:27Tap to summarizeAlberta 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? Share Post reddit <button onClick="javascript:window.location.href = this.dataset.href;return false;" class="ssb_email-icon simplesocial-email-share" aria-label="Share through Email" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-href="mailto:?subject=Episode 54%3A Get Sober or Get Dead...
Transcribe →Episode 53: Goodbye Trey
May 13, 202500:22:45Tap to summarizeWe 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. Share Post reddit <path...
Transcribe →Episode 52: We Will Delete All This
Apr 15, 202500:32:51Tap to summarizeGarth’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. Share Post reddit <button onClick="javascript:window.location.href = this.dataset.href;return false;" class="ssb_email-icon simplesocial-email-share" aria-label="Share through Email" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-href="mailto:?subject=Episode 52%...
Transcribe →Episode 51: Goodbye Shelda
Apr 7, 202500:13:27Tap to summarizeOn 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. Share Post <path id="reddit" d="M307.523,231.062c1.11,2.838,1.614,5.769,1.614,8.681c0,5.862-2.025,11.556-5.423,16.204 c-3.36,4.593-8.121,8.158-13.722,9.727h0.01c-0.047,0.019-0.094,0.019-0.117,0.037c-0.023,0-0.061,0.019-0.079,0.019 c-2.623,0.896-5.312,1.316-7.98,1.316c-6.254,0-12.396-2.254-17.306-6.096c-4.872-3.826-8.56-9.324-9.717-15.845h-0.01 c0-0.019,0-0.042-0.009-0.069c0-0.019,0-0.038-0.019-0.065h0.019c-0.364-1.681-0.551-3.36-0.551-5.021 c0-5.647,1.923-11.07,5.097-15.551c3.164-4.453,7.626-7.99,12.848-9.811c0.019,0,0.038-0.01,0.038-0.01 c0.027,0,0.027-0.027,0.051-0.027c2.954-1.092,6.072-1.639,9.157-1.639c5.619,0,11.154,1.704,15.821,4.821 c4.611,3.066,8.354,7.561,10.23,13.143c0.019,0.037,0.019,0.07,0.037,0.103c0,0.037,0.019,0.057,0.037,0.084H307.523z M290.329,300.349c-2.202-1.428-4.751-2.291-7.448-2.291c-2.175,0-4.434,0.621-6.445,1.955l0,0 c-19.004,11.342-41.355,17.558-63.547,17.558c-16.65,0-33.199-3.514-48.192-10.879l-0.077-0.037l-0.075-0.028 c-2.261-0.924-4.837-2.889-7.647-4.76c-1.428-0.925-2.919-1.844-4.574-2.521c-1.633-0.695-3.447-1.181-5.386-1.181 c-1.605,0-3.292,0.359-4.957,1.115c-0.086,0.033-0.168,0.065-0.252,0.098h0.009c-2.616,0.999-4.66,2.829-5.974,4.994 c-1.372,2.23-2.046,4.826-2.046,7.411c0,2.334,0.551,4.667,1.691,6.786c1.085,2.007,2.754,3.762,4.938,4.938 c21.429,14.454,46.662,21.002,71.992,20.979c22.838,0,45.814-5.287,66.27-14.911l0.107-0.065l0.103-0.056 c2.697-1.597,6.282-3.029,9.661-5.115c1.671-1.064,3.304-2.296,4.704-3.897c1.4-1.591,2.525-3.551,3.16-5.875v-0.01 c0.266-1.026,0.392-2.025,0.392-3.024c0-1.899-0.467-3.701-1.241-5.32C294.361,303.775,292.504,301.778,290.329,300.349z M139.875,265.589c0.037,0,0.086,0.014,0.128,0.037c2.735,0.999,5.554,1.493,8.345,1.493c6.963,0,13.73-2.852,18.853-7.5 c5.115-4.662,8.618-11.257,8.618-18.775c0-0.196,0-0.392-0.009-0.625c0.019-0.336,0.028-0.705,0.028-1.083 c0-7.458-3.456-14.08-8.522-18.762c-5.085-4.686-11.836-7.551-18.825-7.551c-1.867,0-3.769,0.219-5.628,0.653 c-0.028,0-0.049,0.009-0.077,0.009c0,0-0.019,0-0.028,0c-9.252,1.937-17.373,8.803-20.37,18.248l0,0v0.01 c0,0.019-0.009,0.037-0.009,0.037c-0.861,2.586-1.262,5.255-1.262,7.896c0,5.787,1.913,11.426,5.211,16.064 c3.269,4.56,7.894,8.145,13.448,9.819C139.816,265.561,139.835,265.571,139.875,265.589z M430.033,198.094v0.038 c0.066,0.94,0.084,1.878,0.084,2.81c0,10.447-3.351,20.493-8.941,29.016c-5.218,7.976-12.414,14.649-20.703,19.177 c0.532,4.158,0.84,8.349,0.84,12.526c-0.01,22.495-7.766,44.607-21.272,62.329v0.009h-0.028 c-24.969,33.216-63.313,52.804-102.031,62.684h-0.01l-0.027,0.023c-20.647,5.013-41.938,7.574-63.223,7.574 c-31.729,0-63.433-5.722-93.018-17.585l-0.009-0.028h-0.028c-30.672-12.643-59.897-32.739-77.819-62.184 c-9.642-15.71-14.935-34.141-14.935-52.659c0-4.19,0.283-8.387,0.843-12.536c-8.072-4.545-15.063-10.99-20.255-18.687 c-5.542-8.266-9.056-17.95-9.5-28.187v-0.04v-0.037v-0.082c0.009-14.337,6.237-27.918,15.915-37.932 c9.677-10.011,22.896-16.554,37.075-16.554c0.196,0,0.392,0,0.588,0c1.487-0.101,2.987-0.159,4.488-0.159 c7.122,0,14.26,1.153,21.039,3.752l0.037,0.028l0.038,0.012c5.787,2.437,11.537,5.377,16.662,9.449 c1.661-0.871,3.472-1.851,5.504-2.625c31.064-18.395,67.171-25.491,102.358-27.538c0.306-17.431,2.448-35.68,10.949-51.65 c7.08-13.269,19.369-23.599,34-27.179l0.061-0.03l0.079-0.009c5.573-1.078,11.192-1.575,16.774-1.575 c14.869,0,29.561,3.521,43.31,9.017c6.086-9.185,14.776-16.354,24.97-20.375l0.098-0.056l0.098-0.037 c5.983-1.864,12.303-2.954,18.646-2.954c6.692,0,13.437,1.223,19.756,4.046v-0.023c0.009,0.023,0.019,0.023,0.019,0.023 c0.047,0.016,0.084,0.044,0.116,0.044c9.059,3.489,16.727,9.937,22.164,17.95c5.442,8.048,8.644,17.688,8.644,27.599 c0,1.827-0.103,3.657-0.317,5.489l-0.019,0.037c0,0.028,0,0.068-0.01,0.096c-1.063,12.809-7.551,24.047-16.736,32.063 c-9.24,8.048-21.207,12.909-33.49,12.909c-1.97,0-3.958-0.11-5.937-0.374c-12.182-0.931-23.541-6.826-31.886-15.595 c-8.373-8.755-13.768-20.453-13.768-33.08c0-0.611,0.056-1.237,0.074-1.843c-11.435-5.092-23.578-9.316-35.646-9.306 c-1.746,0-3.491,0.096-5.237,0.273h-0.019c-9.035,0.871-17.436,6.566-21.506,14.757v0.009v0.028 c-6.179,12.034-7.411,26.101-7.598,40.064c34.639,2.259,69.483,10.571,100.043,28.138h0.047l0.438,0.259 c0.579,0.343,1.652,0.931,2.623,1.449c2.101-1.704,4.322-3.456,6.856-4.966c9.264-6.17,20.241-9.238,31.223-9.238 c4.872,0,9.749,0.621,14.481,1.834h0.019l0.196,0.058c0.07,0.01,0.121,0.033,0.178,0.033v0.009 c11.183,2.845,21.3,9.267,28.917,17.927c7.612,8.674,12.731,19.648,13.73,31.561v0.025H430.033z M328.002,84.733 c0,0.469,0.01,0.95,0.057,1.44v0.028v0.056c0.224,6.018,3.065,11.619,7.383,15.756c4.34,4.14,10.1,6.702,15.942,6.725h0.08h0.079 c0.42,0.033,0.85,0.033,1.26,0.033c5.899,0.009,11.752-2.532,16.148-6.655c4.405-4.144,7.309-9.78,7.542-15.849l0.009-0.028v-0.037 c0.038-0.464,0.057-0.903,0.057-1.377c0-6.247-2.922-12.202-7.496-16.612c-4.555-4.406-10.688-7.136-16.735-7.12 c-1.951,0-3.884,0.266-5.778,0.854l-0.065,0.005l-0.056,0.023c-4.984,1.295-9.656,4.368-13.012,8.449 C330.046,74.486,328.002,79.508,328.002,84.733z M72.312,177.578c-4.63-2.156-9.418-3.696-14.15-3.676 c-0.794,0-1.597,0.047-2.39,0.133h-0.11l-0.11,0.014c-6.795,0.187-13.653,3.15-18.801,7.899 c-5.152,4.732-8.559,11.122-8.821,18.167v0.065l-0.012,0.058c-0.046,0.57-0.065,1.137-0.065,1.683 c0,4.345,1.333,8.545,3.593,12.368c1.673,2.847,3.867,5.441,6.348,7.701C45.735,204.602,58.142,189.845,72.312,177.578z M374.066,262.635c0-15.5-5.592-31.069-14.646-43.604c-18.053-25.119-46.055-41.502-75.187-50.636l-0.205-0.072 c-5.592-1.715-11.238-3.234-16.933-4.534c-17.025-3.876-34.48-5.806-51.917-5.806c-23.414,0-46.827,3.465-69.245,10.379 c-29.125,9.243-57.221,25.51-75.233,50.71v0.019c-9.129,12.587-14.475,28.208-14.475,43.763c0,5.727,0.716,11.453,2.23,17.025 l0.019,0.01c3.278,12.508,9.689,23.671,17.989,33.393c8.295,9.745,18.472,18.058,29.176,24.839c2.371,1.47,4.751,2.87,7.187,4.237 c31.094,17.356,66.898,24.964,102.445,24.9...
Transcribe →Episode 50: The Toll
Mar 13, 202500:45:13Tap to summarizeIt’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. Share Post reddit <path d="M-1214.1,1565.2v1l8,4l8-4v-1c0-0.7-0.6-1.3-1.3-1.3h-13.4C-1213.5,1563.9-121...
Transcribe →What happens when you give drug users drugs?
Feb 3, 202500:54:03Tap to summarizeIn 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 Share Post reddit <button onClick="javascript:window.location....
Transcribe →Episode 49: The Best Place
Dec 6, 202400:41:24Tap to summarizeVancouver, 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, we hear from professor Danya Fast and Sarah West, one of Danya’s research collaborators. Both reflect on what it’s like to witness and to document preventable deaths during this crisis. Share Post reddit <svg version="1.1" id="Layer_1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns...
Transcribe →