Drug Data Decoded

Black box with large red lettering that says "s. 17, 24" repeated twice.

Calgary Police Commission documents shed new light on Neufeld resignation

Drug Data Decoded has obtained a trove of new documents on the Calgary police chief and deputy resignations. Despite heavy redactions, they reveal a power struggle within the service fuelled by commission messaging.

Seven people posing and smiling in front of an advertisement poster reading "BC Centre on Substance Use".

Saskatchewan government funded two advisory reviews by ROSC Solutions Group

ROSC Solutions Group, a top recipient of AB recovery contracts, was funded for two reports on operations of Saskatchewan recovery centres. Their outcomes are creating a new beachhead for the privatized, abstinence-focused 'recovery-oriented system of care.'

Three magazine covers from Alberta Views nominated for the award, including 'What's Wrong With Rehab?'

'What's Wrong With Rehab?' wins gold at Alberta Magazine Awards

This story was written the first summer after Drug Data Decoded launched, appearing on the cover of the March 2024 Alberta Views. Since then, its conclusions and predictions have borne out. A look at some of the follow-up work on the Alberta Recovery Model.

A man in a suit fumbles a binder full of papers behind a woman looking coolly at the camera from a podium.

Personal health data of My Recovery Plan users are vulnerable to US CLOUD Act

The Alberta government confirmed it is ending My Recovery Plan, the app that ostensibly tracked recovery progress & facility wait lists. However, the app is hosted by Amazon, placing users' personal health data at the mercy of the American Cloud Act.

The most urgent legal case in drug policy needs money. For Overdose Awareness Day, give what you can.

The question is not whether allowing access to regulated drugs is the right thing to do –– that is now confirmed. The question is whether enough collective will can be mustered to overcome the carceral bureaucracy keeping regulated drugs out of reach. DULF can do that –– with your help.

Cartoon of people on laptops sitting around a desk with the words "Transparency" and "Accountability" hanging overhead.

Province to abandon My Recovery Plan amid Auditor General snooping

Alberta's Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction is quietly terminating its contract with a personal data-harvesting app and replacing it with a publicly-owned 'bed availability dashboard.' The move coincides with reported scrutiny of ministry spending by the Auditor General.

Maps showing the proposed footprints of the two drug jails in sparsely populated areas of Calgary and Edmonton.

Alberta government reveals drug jail locations in procurement document

The Alberta government has issued a request for interested parties to participate in the procurement process for two forced abstinence detention facilities, to be located in northwest Calgary and northeast Edmonton – right beside existing carceral institutions.

Photo of a woman's face with kaleidoscopic bars of colour overlaid, containing bits of computer code.

Calgary police "image recognition" software identifies individuals in photos & videos posted online

Documents show that two years after being caught using Clearview AI facial recognition software, Calgary police signed contracts for AI software that scours photos and videos for individuals. Have police agencies across Canada taken a secret shortcut to facial recognition?

Visual instructions on how to tie a bow line knot, which is frequently used to secure ships to a dock.

Alberta recovery programs require private 'coaches,' emails show

As one recovery centre admits that recovery coaches supplied by Bowline Health are now mandatory to access its residential services, it is unclear if the Province will mandate its coaches across the recovery system. Meanwhile, the company's vertical integration expands to emergency rooms.

Several police officers in full uniform smile and wave from a small inflatable pool surrounded by snow.

Calgary Police Commission skips deceit investigation as cops & press get cozy

Calgary police oversight is in crisis. Police commission failed to investigate alleged deceit by the chief for a year before dropping the files upon his resignation, which media have seemingly given up trying to explain. Meanwhile, emails reveal bias of corporate media toward police narratives.

A tall man with long blonde hair and a woman with blonde and pink hair walk on a city street wearing backpacks.

RECLAIM Collective speaks out against forced abstinence

In advance of Support. Don't Punish on June 26, the founders of RECLAIM Collective share their thoughts on how the forced abstinence legislation recently passed by the Alberta government will impact their community.

A darkened room with an L-shaped row of clinical-looking seated booths in front of mirrors. Above each booth is a vent, and beside each one is a sharps disposal bin.

Drug inhalation is being choked off in Alberta

Demand continues to increase dramatically for clean drug inhalation supplies, but procurement data obtained by Drug Data Decoded show the supply is being throttled back. Is the shortfall helping to drive Alberta cities to new overdose heights?