NEW: Drugs, Harm, and Public Order
About this Event
On September 9, we present : "Drugs, Harm, and Public Order" by Denis Lim.
If the evidence is clear, why is drug policy so controversial? Public debates about drugs often seem to revolve around one question: What works? But in reality, evidence alone rarely determines government policy. In this timely and thought-provoking talk, we'll explore how Canadian drug policy has been shaped by competing ideas of harm, morality, public health, public order, and safety.
From prohibition and supervised consumption sites to harm reduction and recent policy reversals in Ontario and British Columbia, we'll examine why evidence-based interventions can still become politically vulnerable.
Rather than treating drug policy as a simple choice between compassion and punishment, this lecture offers a new way of understanding the debate. Whose harm is being recognized? Whose safety is being prioritized? And how does the way we frame a problem shape the solutions we consider acceptable?
Whether you've followed these debates closely or are encountering them for the first time, you'll leave with a practical framework for making sense of political claims, media narratives, and public conversations about drugs, disorder, treatment, and community safety.
Expect an accessible, evidence-informed evening that challenges assumptions and offers a fresh perspective on one of Canada's most contested public policy issues.
💡 About the wonderful Denis Lim
Denis Lim is a researcher and PhD candidate at TMU specializing in drug policy, public health, and the politics of harm reduction. His work examines how evidence, public opinion, and competing ideas of safety shape the policies that govern substance use and community health.
📅 Date: Septmber 9, 2026
🕡 Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
📍 Location: Black Lab Brewing
🎤 Speaker: Denis Lim, PhD Candidate.
🎟 Seats are limited!
Where is it happening?
CAD 38.82
