Drug Data Decoded: Top investigations of 2024
Drug Data Decoded continued breaking important stories in Canadian drug policy through 2024, with intersections at policing, encampments and privatization of public services.
Latest
Alberta model
Province refuses to disclose Calgary Recovery Community contract awarded in 2023
Documents reveal new details about the recovery community grant competition hurried through the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction in 2023. The Ministry continues to withhold details about the recipient previously hinted at by Drug Data Decoded.
Alberta model
UCP coordinated overdose prevention site closure with Red Deer city councillor
Documents show the United Conservatives were working with city councillors intent on driving the closure of supervised consumption services in Red Deer as early as 2022.
Media Criticism
Police drive violence in the unregulated drug and sex work markets
Guest post: Police are invested in the sale, procurement & consumption of sex work & certain drugs. Their publicly funded communications reflect this – an opportunity for media.
Alberta model
Was Last Door granted Calgary Recovery Community?
Unannounced by the Alberta government, all signs point to the controversial UCP-aligned recovery organization bagging a lucrative contract for Calgary's new centre.
Alberta model
Calgary city council just says no
Calgary city council took a defiant stance against the Alberta government's attempt to have council do its dirty work. For once, the trash took itself out in Alberta.
News
Advocates rally against closure of supervised consumption service in Calgary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Local advocates say supervised consumption services must be expanded and improved with drug inhalation capacity. A rally will be held on Tuesday, October 29.
Safe supply
DULF's legal update
Drug User Liberation Front co-founders Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum held a press conference with their lawyers on October 15, 2024 to correct disinformation about the compassion club and provide a legal update.
drug user liberation
13 Student-led Groups Call for Compassion Clubs Now & DULF Charges To Be Dropped
Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy Vancouver, Migrant Students United UBC, Climate Justice UBC, UBC Social Justice Centre, CUPE 2278 Executive Committee and eight more student-led groups speak out.
!["Dear Paul ... [redacted] ... Thanks, Evan"](/content/images/size/w600/2024/09/PXL_20240918_131849751-2.jpg)
Freedom of Information
Alberta's fiefdom of information
The Premier's office was in contact with the University of Calgary President's office during the peaceful May 9 Palestine solidarity demonstration. But after months of work, the events surrounding the violent deployment of riot police remain shrouded in secrecy.
Alberta model
Private recovery app targeting shelters, prisons & consumption sites may distort outcome data
An app that privatizes health information of recovery patients is aimed at Alberta shelters, correctional facilities and supervised consumption sites. In one case, data from the app that showed a negative outcome was suppressed, but the government still publicly reported it.
News
Private org has control of Alberta recovery patients' health info
My Recovery Plan was implemented to evaluate and manage substance use treatment waitlists across Alberta. Documents reveal how it denies patients informed consent and control of their personal health information.