Episode 21: Control

Written By Crackdown Podcast .

Image: Patty and Joe’s room at “Anthony House”. A small TV wrapped in plastic sits on a desk by the window. In the window there is a poster of a tropical beach scene. There is also a futon with emerald-green bedding and a stainless steel sink in the room. The walls are plain, painted neutral colours. (Photo: Patty)

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.

BC’s Premier, John Horgan, has recently reiterated his support for the controversial Bill 22. Under the proposed bill, doctors could involuntarily detain people under the age of 19 at hospitals for up to seven days after an overdose—even if their parents or guardians don’t agree. In some circumstances, hospitals could even use physical restraints to keep young people from leaving.

Bill 22 is an example of the way that the desire to protect drug users—in particular young drug users—often becomes a desire to control them. Supportive housing can feel like prison. Hospitals can be dangerous and racist places, particularly for Indigenous people. And harm reduction programs can feel cold and institutional. And when programs become too controlling, they repel—and even threaten—the very people they’re meant to help.

Garth interviews Kali Sedgemore in a parking garage. (Photo: Sam Fenn)

VANDU, Crackdown, the BC’s Chief Coroner, the Representative for Children and Youth, the BC Civil Liberties Association, the Pivot Legal Society, the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs have all spoken out against Bill 22. At a press conference, Kukpi7 Judy Wilson of UBCIC noted the government’s history of forcibly removing Indigenous kids from their families and putting them in residential schools.

“So we see the bill as really concerning,” Wilson said. “We don’t need to be going to call out for help and then worry if we’re going to be detained.”

“That’s not going to work for us.”

Transcript

A complete transcript of this episode is available here.

Works Cited and Further Reading

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 Fresz, Jeff Louden, Dean Wilson, Al Fowler, and Laura Shaver.

Rest in Peace Dave Murray and Chereece Keewatin.

Today’s episode was conceptualized, written, and produced by Sam Fenn, Alexander Kim, Alex de Boer, Danya Fast, Ryan McNeil, and 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.

Crackdown Podcast .
Previous

Episode 22: We’re Not Afraid of Needles Around Here
Next

Episode 20: Cut Off