2020 Selected News Highlights
- The Walrus, September 14: The Pandemic is Intensifying the Opioid Crisis
- CFAX, September 3: Federal government hesitant about decriminalization of personal drugs
- Global News, September 2: Despite record drug deaths amid coronavirus, Trudeau still won’t support decriminalization
- National Observer, September 1: BC's call on Ottawa to decriminalize drug possession a "shell game", says advocate
- Acadien Nouvelle, August 24: Theresa Tam veut que le Canada reflechisse a decriminaliser les drogues dures
- Victoria News, August 23: Talks needed on decriminalizing hard drugs to address opioid crisis, Tam says
- Victoria Times Colonist, August 22: Talks needed on decriminalizing hard drugs to address opioid crisis, Tam says
- Le Devoir, August 22: Theresa Tam veut que le Canada réfléchisse à décriminaliser les drogues dures
- CTV News, August 22: Talks needed on decriminalizing hard drugs to address opioid crisis, Tam says
- Global News, August 22: Discussion on decriminalizing drugs should be considered in wake of opioid deaths: Tam
- Q107, August 20: New guideline says only serious drug possession offences should be prosecuted
- Castanet.net, August 20: Liberals move toward changing drug policy as opioid deaths spike
- Washington Post, August 16: Canada’s other health crisis: As overdoses surge, officials call on government to decriminalize illicit drugs
- VICE, August 14: This Government Is Defunding One of North America's Busiest Safe Injection Sites
- 630 CHED (Ryan Jespersen Show), July 23: A Lethbridge safe consumption site has lost its government funding
- 630 CHED (Afternoons with J'Lyn Nye), July 22: Canada’s police chiefs support decriminalizing drug possession - is change coming?
- CFAX (Mornings with Al Ferraby), July 22: Premier Horgan urges prime minister to decriminalize drugs
- Capital Current, July 21: Police chiefs urge decriminalization of drug possession; policy experts urge faster, broader reform
- Vancouver Sun (op-ed), July 20: Police agree we must fully decriminalize drug possession. And we must do so immediately
- Hamilton Spectator, July 17: Decriminalization is a matter of life and death
- CFAX (Adam Stirling Show), July 16: June surpasses May as worst month in B.C. overdose deaths
- Toronto Star (op-ed), July 16: Decriminalization of drugs in Canada demands bold leadership — now
- CBC (The Early Edition), July 13: Continued called to decriminalize drugs in Canada
- CKNW (Lynda Steele Show), July 10: The Canadian Drug Policy Coalition reacts to decriminalization news
- CFAX (Adam Stirling Show), July 10: Canadian chiefs of police calling for decriminalization of drugs
- Global News, July 10: Canada’s police chiefs support decriminalizing drug possession. Is change coming?
- Vancouver Sun, July 9: Police chiefs across Canada advocate decriminalization of illicit drugs for personal use
- Vancouver Sun, July 3: Vancouver’s drug strategy: It’s time to erect the second pillar — treatment
- CKNW (Lynda Steele Show), June 24: The road to a safe supply, and why it matters
- BNN Bloomberg (The Takeaway), June 17: Pandemic has hit hard for B.C.'s opioid crisis: Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
- CBC (The Current), June 15: Overdose deaths rise in the pandemic (50:25)
- Orangeville Banner (Orangeville, ON), June 12: Fuelled by toxic drugs and COVID-19 isolation, a record number of B.C. overdoses puts spotlight on safe-supply efforts
- Our Windsor (Ontario), June 12: Fuelled by toxic drugs and COVID-19 isolation, a record number of B.C. overdoses puts spotlight on safe-supply efforts
- Toronto Star (Vancouver), June 12: Fuelled by toxic drugs and COVID-19 isolation, a record number of B.C. overdoses puts spotlight on safe-supply efforts
- New Hamburg Independent, June 12: Fuelled by toxic drugs and COVID-19 isolation, a record number of B.C. overdoses puts spotlight on safe-supply efforts
- CKNW, June 12: BC records highest number of fatal overdoses in a single month
- CityNews Vancouver, June 11: 'These are our brothers and sisters': B.C.'s top doctor renews call for decriminalization of drug use
- Global News, June 11: B.C. records highest ever number of opioid deaths in May
- Globe and Mail, June 11: B.C. records its deadliest month for illicit drug overdoses in May
- Ricochet, May 28: Drug decriminalization is a ‘no-brainer’ during COVID-19, say advocates
- CBC, May 9: La pandémie de la COVID-19 accroît le nombre de surdoses
- wiki.ezvid.com, April 21: Five Organizations working to change drug policies worldwide
- Co-op Radio, April 1: Safe supply in the Downtown Eastside during the time of COVID-19
- Vancouver Courier, March 27, ‘Safe supply’ of drugs good news in Vancouver, but is it only here for the pandemic?
- CKNW (Simi Sara Show), March 27, Protecting Residents of the DTES During the COVID-19 Crisis
- Red Deer Advocate, March 27, Preventing more overdoses by opening Red Deer’s SCS would reduce strain on system during COVID-19, says advocate
- Globe and Mail, March 27, COVID-19 pandemic pushes B.C. to move forward on safe take-home drug supply strategy
- Vancouver Sun, March 27, COVID-19: Safe-drug supplies part of package as Vancouver addresses Downtown Eastside
- CTV, February 24, Overdose crisis: Nearly 3 people per day died last year in B.C.
- CFAX, February 24, Illict drug toxicity deaths down in B.C., February 24
2019 Selected News Highlights
- CBC (Cross Country Checkup), December 13, Homelessness, substance use, and social determinants of health (1:06:30)
- Georgia Straight, November 25, B.C. NDP members contradict the NDP solicitor general with unanimous push to decriminalize drugs
- CKNW (Lynda Steele Show), November 22, What do we need to do to curb the opioid crisis?
- Globe and Mail, November 22, B.C. NDP members criticize their own party’s lack of action on drug harm-reduction
- Hamilton Spectator, October 26, Churn of possession charges in Hamilton makes case for truce in ‘war on drugs’
- Chemainus Valley Courier, October 23, Feds decriminalizing drugs possible if Jagmeet Singh pushes for it, expert says
- Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News, October 23, Feds decriminalizing drugs possible if Jagmeet Singh pushes for it, expert says
- Surrey-Now Leader, October 23, Feds decriminalizing drugs possible if Jagmeet Singh pushes for it, expert says
- Campbell River Mirror, October 23, Feds decriminalizing drugs possible if Jagmeet Singh pushes for it, expert says
- Abbotsford News, October 23, Feds decriminalizing drugs possible if Jagmeet Singh pushes for it, expert says
- Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly, October 23, Feds decriminalizing drugs possible if Jagmeet Singh pushes for it, expert says
- 630 CHED, October 22, How could last night’s election outcome affect federal drug policy and the ongoing overdose/drug use crisis in Canada?
- CBC, October 21, Vancouver councillor calls for review of city's drug strategy
- Georgia Straight, October 21, Vancouver's former drug czar says it's time to review policies he drafted, with an eye on something more radical
- CKNW, October 16, What should the next federal government do to mitigate the effects of the opioid crisis
- 630 CHED, October 15, Left behind: leaders talking about opioids?
- CBC, October 5, Why the opioid crisis isn't a bigger federal election issue
- Star Vancouver, October 4, Donald MacPherson: Toxic drugs are a crisis. If B.C. and other provinces don’t act, they’ll have to answer for the lives lost
- Star Vancouver, October 4, ‘On their watch, people continue to die’: Donald MacPherson on why B.C. needs to act on a safe drug supply
- The Globe and Mail, August 31 (op-ed): It’s time for Canada to embrace the legal regulation of drugs
- The Guardian, August 20, Priorities and plans ready to quell opioid addiction in Atlantic Canada
- Globe and Mail (via CP), August 20, Health Canada approves Saskatchewan’s first supervised drug consumption site
- Calgary Herald, August 19, Lethbridge city council to debate motion calling for halt to supervised consumption funding
- VICE, August 19, Canada Might Have Found a Back Door to End the War on Drugs
- CBC, August 17, How did we get here? Failed public policy and Vancouver's Downtown Eastside
- CBC (The Early Edition), August 13, Director of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition Donald McPherson speaks with Stephen Quinn
- Vancouver Sun, August 5, 'I’ll keep yelling': Vancouver mayor demands federal, provincial policy change on opioids
- Global News, August 4, ‘Not in My Backyard’: How NIMBYism impacts access to vital support services
- National Post, August 1, Canada begins issuing pardons for cannabis possession convictions
- Reuters, August 1, Canada begins issuing pardons for cannabis possession convictions
- CFAX (Adam Stirling Show), July 26, VHC report on overdose crisis
- CKNW (Lynda Steele Show), July 26, VCH releases annual report on overdose crisis
- News1130, July 26, Regulate drugs to save lives, B.C. doctor says, as fentanyl detected in 87% of ODs (Radio version)
- Global and Mail, July 26, BC doctor calls for illicit drug regulation to save lives
- CBC , July 26, Regulated drug supply, streamlined services recommended as next steps in fighting overdose crisis
- Global News, July 26, Metro Vancouver’s top doctor calls for safe drug supply
- Vancouver Sun, July 26, Provide regulated opioids to stem fentanyl overdose crisis, says top medical officer
- Globe and Mail, July 22, Vancouver’s overdose task force calls for safer supply of drugs
- Toronto Star, June 29, New Trudeau-Trump opioid plan helps rebuild frayed relations from trade talks
- Kamloops Matters, June 29, New Trudeau-Trump opioid plan helps rebuild frayed relations from trade talks
- Global News, June 29, Canada-U.S. opioid plan helps rebuild relations frayed from trade talks
- Vancouver Sun, June 29, New Trudeau-Trump opioid plan helps rebuild frayed relations from trade talks
- Globe and Mail, June 29, New Canada-U.S. opioid plan to help rebuild frayed relations from trade talks
- Huffington Post, June 29, Trudeau And Trump Are Working Together To Tackle The Opioid Crisis In North America
- VICE, June 26, Canadians Can Now Order Shrooms From This Dispensary
- Vancouver Sun, June 22, Advocate for evidence-based approaches to substance use and addiction honoured with lifetime achievement award
- London Free Press, June 21, London doctor prescribing opioids to drug users draws praise, raises concerns
- Georgia Straight (Op-ed), June 21, We can stop the overdose epidemic—why aren’t we?
- Globe and Mail, June 12, Parliamentary health committee recommends decriminalization of simple possession of illicit substances
- QP Briefing, May 30, As Ontario hops on BC's opioid lawsuit, experts say more needs to be done to fight the crisis
- CKNW (Lynda Steele Show), May 27, Growing calls to overhaul the drug policy in Canada. Should we legalize all drugs?
- VICE, May 22, How to legalize every drug
- CBC, May 16, 'Safe supply' at heart of regulating illicit drug use, say experts
- CBC (The Early Edition), May 15, Building a model for legal regulation and Peter Wall International Research Roundtable public event (2:12:14)
- Global News, May 13, Small communities grapple with ‘huge challenge’ of opioid crisis
- Sault Star, May 13, Opioid overdoses challenge small towns
- National Post, May 13, Small communities grapple with 'huge challenge' of opioid crisis
- CKNW, May 13, Peter Wall International Research Rountable and legal regulation of drugs (Zara Snapp, Steve Rolles)
- CFAX (Afternoons with Mark Brennae), April 24, Dr. Bonnie Henry report recommending decriminalization of substance use
- CityNews Vancouver, April 24, B.C. top doctor's drug decriminalization report good first step: advocates
- CBC, April 24 (6:00 p.m. newscast), Dr. Bonnie Henry report recommending decriminalization of substance use (lead story)
- CBC, April 16 (6:00 p.m. newscast), Vancouver's National Day of Action on the Overdose Crisis and the need for safe supply (10:20 in)
- NewsTalk 770 CHQR (Calgary Today), April 11, provincial overdose response efforts
- CTV, April 10, CTV News Channel interview on the latest overdose statistics released by the Public Health Agency of Canada
- Edmonton Journal, April 8, Time to change approach on opioid crisis, says public health experts
- 680 CHED (Ryan Jespersen Show), April 1, Underlying causes & Potential solutions to the opioid crisis
2018 Selected News Highlights
- Metro Vancouver, February 26, Drug reformers watch federal budget for opioid crisis action
- Simi Sara Show, March 7, Should all drugs be legalized?
- Globe and Mail, March 28, Vancouver mayor calls for drug decriminalization after record year for opioid overdoses.
- Spice Radio, May 14, interview with Scott Bernstein, Director of Policy, on overdose statistics and legal regulation of drugs.
- The Georgia Straight, May 16, Young Canadians continue facing discrimination in their personal use of cannabis.
- Star Vancouver, July 5, Canadian cannabis workers targeted by U.S. border guards for lifetime bans.
- Toronto Star, Sept 13, Canadians who smoke marijuana legally, or work or invest in the industry, will be barred from the U.S.: Customs and Border Protection official.
- Global New, October 4, Could more drugs become decriminalized?
- Globe and Mail, October 18, Feds defend barring edible cannabis for a year as black market eyes gaps.
2017 Selected News Highlights
- VICE. July 12, A Hostile Environment for People Who Use Drugs is Harmful for Everyone.
- Ryerson University, May 24, Frontline Fentanyl: Users helping users (documentary)
- CBC, The Disruptor Series with Anna Maria Tremonti. April 25, Drug controls 'absolutely pathetic,' activist says regulation will save lives
- This Week on Drugs, April 24, Legalizing Canada (at 40:00)
- Global News. April 14, Budding Cannabis Legalization presents Challenges and Opportunities for BC
- MetroNews March 24, Opioid crisis requires trying 'everything': Expert on prescribed heroin
- Georgia Straight, March 11, Legal Heroin
- CBC, February 16, Vancouver hosting national meeting on how to open more supervised consumption sites.
- Globe and Mail, February 10, Beyond Harm Reduction
- CBC (op-ed) February 1, And the Band Played On: Overdoses, death and a resistance to change
- The Tyee, January 26, An Urgent Call on Overdose Crisis: Prescribe Drugs, End Prohibition
- Georgia Straight. January 31, Vancouver's frontline fentanyl responders make the case for legalization in private meeting with Trudaeu.
- Globe and Mail. January 5, Vancouver street dealer seen more as a symptom than problem of overdose crisis
2016 Selected News Highlights
- CBC: BC Alamac. December 29, 2016. "Legalizing drugs beyond pot. Gardener Brisn Minter."
- CBC News. November 26, 2016 "Are politicians too disconnected from the reality of drug abuse to solve the opioid crisis?" by Ferrah Merali
- The Georgia Straight. September 28, 2016. "Addictions experts Dr. Gabor Mate and Donald MacPherson to speak at upcoming marijuana conference in Vancouver" by Travis Lupick
- McLeans. August 31, 2016. "Controls on Fentanyl chemicals not enough to avert crisis: expert" by Camille Bains
- The Georgia Straight. August 9, 2016. "Drug policy groups urge task force to endorse retail pot shops and not be swayed by media hysteria" by Charlie Smith
- Daily Mail Online (UK). August 2, 2016. "Right groups call on UN to condemm Philippine drug killings"
- The Province. June 20, 2016. "A radical proposal for B.C.s battle against fentanyl" by Nick Eagland
- National Post. June 17, 2016. "'We had nothing to lose': How Portugal solved its 'catastrophic' drug woes through decriminalization" by Tom Blackwell
- CBC News. May 16, 2016. "Medical pot producer fund sober driving campaign"
- The Vancouver Sun. April 27, 2016. "The long slow retreat in the war on drugs" by Pete McMartin
- CBC News. April 19, 2016. "UN meeting could be 1st step to ending global war on drugs" by Lucas Powers
- NY Times. March 22, 2016. "Itchica's Anti-Heroin Plan: Open a Site to Shoot Heroin" by Lisa Forderaro
2015 Selected News Highlights
2014 - 2011 Selected News Highlights & Press Releases
- National Post. October 22, 2014 "Canada is ignoring easy uncontroversial ways to prevent overdose deaths" by Donald MacPherson
- The Winnipeg Free Press. September 22, 2014 "Drug policy seriously outdated" by Richard Elliott and Donald MacPherson
- The Tyee. September 5, 2014 "Vancouver's Addiction Ambitions, Revisited" by Gordon Katic and Sam Fenn
- National Post. August 20, 2014 "Preventing music festival drug deaths must go beyond saying just say no" by Donald MacPherson
- The Rick Howe Show. June 19, 2014. "Amy Graves comments on the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition report on opiate overdoses"
- Huffington Post. June 18, 2014. "Opiate overdose deaths in Canada Rising"
- 06/16/2014 – Opioid overdose prevention & response in Canada
- The Georgia Straight. June 11, 2014. "Vancouver Coastal Health reveals plan to expand supervised injection services in city" by Travis Lupick
- CTV News. June 14, 2014. "Canada urged to expand use of naloxone to counter opiate overdoses"
- National Post. April 28, 2014. "A Gift to the Drug Kingpins" by Donald MacPherson
- Huffington Post. April 5, 2014. "The Berlin Theory of Drug Prohibition" by Jean Kavanagh
- 10/17/2013 – Federal Health Minister re-introduced a bill whose sole purpose and intent is to block access to health services
- 09/30/2013 – Second anniversary of Supreme Court ruling in support of Insite
- 09/23/2013 – Special Access Requests and Permanent HAT programs
- Calgary Herald: Report calls for decriminalizing both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ drug
- National Post: Canadian Drug Policy Coalition recommends decriminalizing hard drugs
- CBC Radio: Decriminalizing Drugs
- The Province: Harper government to stay tough on drugs
- 05/17/2013 – Organization of American States presents a vision for drug policy reform
- 01/24/2013 – Senator Pierre Claude Nolin Honours Drug Policy Leaders with Diamond Jubilee Award
- 01/16/2013 – CDPC Executive Director Heads to Panama to Create Alternative Scenarios for Drug Policy in the Hemisphere
- 07/12/2012 – Punitive drug laws are stifling the global HIV/AIDS response.
- Français – Les lois punitives sur les drogues étouffent la réponse mondiale au VIH/sida.
- 06/26/2012 – Coalition urges Canadian government to acknowledge link between drug laws and HIV
- 04/19/2012 – National dialogue addresses integration of supervised injection services into health care and community in Canada
- Français – Échange de connaissances sur l’intégration des services d’injection supervisée dans les soins de santé et dans la communauté : un dialogue s’amorce
- 04/11/2012 – Coalition calls on Canadian government to work closely with Latin American countries to reform drug policy at Summit of the Americas
- 02/09/2012 – Leading experts in drug policy call on government to reject Bill C-10, rethink Canada’s drug laws
- Français – Les experts des politiques sur les drogues demandent au gouvernement de rejeter le projet de loi C-10 et de revoir les lois canadiennes sur les drogues
- 11/29/2011 – New Coalition calls for a public health approach to alcohol, tobacco and drug controls
- Chinese – 新聯盟呼籲控制酒精、煙草和毒品的公眾健康方法
- Français – Une nouvelle Coalition réclame une approche de santé publique pour le contrôle de l’alcool, du tabac et des drogues
- 11/29/2011 – New national drug policy coalition receives key endorsements
