Confiscations, public health obstructions, and perpetual displacement: Experiences and perspectives on urban law enforcement practices during a period of “recriminalization” among people who use criminalized drugs
Our findings illustrate how harmful law enforcement practices that target people who use criminalized drugs, particularly those relying on public spaces for survival, persisted during the evolving drug policy periods. Together, these law enforcement practices along with the lack of understanding regarding the shifting Decriminalization Pilot, may have undermined the potential success of a policy dedicated to decriminalizing drug possession in BC.
Authors
- Caitlin Shane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1567-543X)
- Kelsey A. Speed (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5728-5209)
- Tyson Singh Kelsall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7995-9483)
- Samona Marsh
- Molly Beatrice
- Kali-Olt Rufus-Sedgemore
- Karl Moen
- Thomas Kerr
- Jade Boyd
- Jenn McDermid
- Paul Henry
- Kanna Hayashi
- P․O․W․E․R․
Institutions
- Centre for Drug Research and Development (CA)
- Simon Fraser University (CA)
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (CA)
- Positive Living Society of British Columbia (CA)
- Police Department (LT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Drug Policy
- Published
- 2026-02-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105196
- Primary Topic
- HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00