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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

Bibliographic Data

ID14908522
AuthorsTyson Singh Kelsall (0009-0003-7995-9483, Simon Fraser University, corresponding author), Caitlin Shane (Positive Living Society of British Columbia), Kelsey A Speed (0000-0002-5728-5209, British Columbia Centre on Substance Use), Jenn McDermid (Positive Living Society of British Columbia), Kali-Olt Rufus-Sedgemore, Kali-olt Sedgemore (0000-0002-3297-6310), Karl Moen (Police Department), Paul Henry (0000-0001-6441-725X, Police Department), Jade Boyd (0000-0001-7919-5995, British Columbia Centre on Substance Use), Samona Marsh (Centre for Drug Research and Development), Molly Beatrice (Simon Fraser University), Thomas Kerr (0000-0002-0870-7153, British Columbia Centre on Substance Use), K Hayashi (0000-0003-3843-2928, Simon Fraser University)
Year2026
Volume150
Pages105196
Publication date2026-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Drug Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0955-3959 • E-ISSN: 1873-4758
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105196
PMID41690110
OpenAlexW7128781250
LanguageEN
References cited48

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

Criminalization · Decriminalization · Enforcement · Law enforcement · Law reform · Possession (linguistics · Public health · Public health law · Public policy · Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk

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Citation velocityhistorical
Highly citedNo
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