British Columbia is rolling back safe supply and decriminalization, and moving toward something very different: forcibly detaining and treating people with severe addictions. Alberta is already doing it. Ontario is considering it. Canada is entering a new era of drug policy, one called involuntary care.

Host Noor Azrieh sits down with legislative reporter Mark Page to unpack what’s happening in B.C., and then goes international to speak with Professor Alison Ritter about what Australia’s experience with involuntary care can teach us.

Host: Noor Azrieh

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Post Production), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests: Mark Page, Alison Ritter

Background reading:

The Fight Over Forced Rehab – Macleans
Mixed reaction to B.C. premier's announcement of new involuntary care facilities – CBC News
One third of B.C.’s ‘publicly funded substance-use treatment beds’ don’t provide any treatment – The Investigative Journalism Foundation
Involuntary treatment for severe addiction is better than doing nothing – The Globe and Mail

Sponsors:

Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free!

Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more! To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/canadaland and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Vote for Best Host (News & Politics) at the Signal Awards!

Can't get enough Canadaland? Follow @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram for clips, announcements, explainers and more.

Watch the show on youtube!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The RP Will Finally Reach The Mainstream? Rollo Tomassi