Blog
Introducing the SSDP Delhi Chapter
I’m thrilled to announce that we have a new SSDP chapter in Delhi, India! Chapter leader Jatin Sawhney has been working on bringing SSDP to his community ever since he returned from studying at Depaul University in Chicago, where he was a member of their SSDP chapter. I asked Jatin a few questions about his experience so far, and what
Apply to Volunteer with EPSD Bolivia / Aplicar para ser Voluntario con EPSD Bolivia
Una traducción al español está abajo. Have you ever thought it would be cool to travel to another country and see drug policy reform from a different cultural perspective? Now might be your chance! In collaboration with Acción Semilla and AIESEC, the SSDP chapter in Bolivia (EPSD Bolivia) is launching a new educational cultural space that will specialize in drug
How to Participate in the 2018 Support Don’t Punish Global Day of Action
What is Support Don’t Punish? Support. Don’t Punish. is a global advocacy campaign that seeks to raise awareness of the harms being caused by the War on Drugs. The campaign aims to promote drug policies that respect human rights and protect public health, to change laws and policies that impede access to harm reduction interventions and other evidence-based services, and
Introducing Salt Lake Community College SSDP!
Hey everyone, join me in welcoming Salt Lake Community College to the family! The chapter founder and president, Garret Rueckert, took some time to sit down with me and answer some questions about his aspirations for the chapter. How did you hear about SSDP? I looked into SSDP on my own after learning about the War on Drugs in one
Seven pieces of advice from my four years of success and failure
When I joined Students for Sensible Drug Policy four years ago, I knew nothing about drug policy. The names Michelle Alexander and Carl Hart meant nothing to me; the Controlled Substances Act and the Rave Act were merely headlines in the haze of Congressional action. There was no coverage for people in difficult legal situations due to use of drugs
From donor to chapter leader to board member to community health worker
I first found out about Students for Sensible Drug Policy in 2013 when I was only beginning to learn about the harsh realities of the War on Drugs. I decided to donate what I could at the time because I thought the work they were doing was so important and I did not see other student-run organizations that were willing
Drugs Reforms in Perspective of Public Health to Counter the Menace of Law Enforcement in Pakistan
Written by Wiqas Ahmad ’17, founder of SSDP Pakistan. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that Pakistan has 6.7 million drug users. More than four million of them are people with a substance use disorder, amongst the highest number for any country in the world. Misuse of cannabis and heroin is so rife that experts say
How SSDP helped me connect the dots
Like most college students, I spent my early years trying to find my place. I changed majors, schools, and longed to find my identity. In spring of 2015, I found a place within SSDP. When I walked into my first meeting at the University of Rhode Island, I instantly felt connected with those surrounding me. I phonebanked for cannabis legalization
Finding my passion for harm reduction
In high school, I dated someone who I thought was going to be my soulmate for almost 4 years. After watching his life change due to his chaotic relationship with opiates, and knowing I would never be able to help him, I became inspired to go to college and become a therapist specializing in substance use disorders. During and after
“I’m Sorry… Students for What?”
In 2016, I walked into a Contemporary Liberalism class at the College of Charleston. I was an aspiring Political Science Major with little to no direction. I had no idea what I wanted to be nor did I know what I wanted to do. I believe everyone goes through this at some point during their college tenure; I went through
