News
Statement on Biden Harris First Year Drug Policy Priorities
While we support expanding access to treatment and reducing barriers to young people who are seeking treatment, there are no steps being taken to support YPWUD that do not want to and will not stop using drugs. The administration’s approach to youth drug use does not align with their explicit commitment to “promot[e] harm reduction efforts.”
SSDP International’s First Annual Report (2019-2020) Has Been Released
Throughout 2019-2020, the whole world faced some serious challenges. In the face of these challenges, young drug policy activists showed tireless commitment to fighting for the rights or people who use drugs and advocating for policies grounded in human rights. This year, the resilience of our movement was put to the test and once again, we have proven the strength
Introducing SSDP Rwanda
This is an interview with Justin Nkunzimana ‘20, chapter leader of SSDP Rwanda Tell me a bit about yourself, what you study, your interests and why you decided to start a chapter. My name is Justin Nkunzimana and I am advocate for peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. I am student at the University of Rwanda and I am
Register Now – Drug Policy & Transformational Leadership SSDP Africa
Join us on Tuesday the 22nd of December at 7pm GMT/ 8pm WAT / 10pm EAT for this month’s SSDP Africa Leaders Training. Our topic this month is Drug Policy & Transformational Leadership and we are joined by some of the leading drug policy activists across the continent. Don’t forget to register for this event here. Learn more about our
SSDP Welcomes Carmen Jackman to the Team
Carmen Jackman (’19) has joined SSDP’s team as our new Development Associate! In this role, Carmen will be supporting SSDP’s fundraising efforts, building relationships, and managing SSDP’s monthly giving club. Carmen Jackman is a native Marylander and Washington, D.C. area-based designer, researcher, and organizer. She played Division 1 Tennis at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) where she obtained
Another Historic Victory: The MORE Act Has Passed in the House of Representatives
In a historic victory for drug policy reform and a historic blow to marijuana prohibition in the United States, the MORE Act has passed in the House of Representatives. From the passing of the Controlled Substances Act and its implementation in 1971 to now, hundreds of thousands of people have been arrested for marijuana possession. It’s truly hard to overstate the
Living in a Quarantine of Violence
This is the second part in our series “Eliminating Violence against Women Who Use Drugs”, see the first part here. The featured image on this article was sourced from the UN Women Social Media Trello. Find more images to share from this campaign here. November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and marks the beginning of
Eliminating Violence Against Women Who Use Drugs
This is the first of our series “Eliminating Violence Against Women Who Use Drugs”, see part two here. The featured image on this article was sourced from the UN Women Social Media Trello. Find more images to share from this campaign here. November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and marks the beginning of
Drug Policy Reform Won The Election
Last night, drug policy reform was the clear winner in the United States 2020 election. Students for Sensible Drug Policy was honored to work on seven winning statewide initiatives this year and we congratulate the successful campaigns on this stunning victory for drug policy reform. In an unprecedented move, Oregon voters turned out to overwhelmingly support the decriminalization of all
Statement of Solidarity with the People of Nigeria
Students for Sensible Drug Policy stands in solidarity with the people of Nigeria protesting against the human rights abuses and police brutality committed by the Nigerian police force, particularly the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, also known as SARS. We condemn the actions of the Nigerian government, especially the infringing on the people’s right to protest by using violence and brutality, and
Young Nigerians Fight Against Police Brutality #EndSARS
This report is written by our African Development Consultant, Moronfolu Adeniyi ’14, based on his experiences on the ground in Ogun State. More than a week ago now, police officers in their usual habits harrassed (shot) a young man in Ughelli part of Delta State. It was thought to be police from the common unit, Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) because
SSDP Statement on Breonna Taylor
Students for Sensible Drug Policy is enraged and disturbed over the decision made by the grand jury in the murder of Breonna Taylor to indict just one out of three officers involved with charges that were unrelated to her death. However, we are not surprised. The system that killed Breonna Taylor refuses to hold itself accountable time and time again.
Drug Use and the LGBTQ+ Community – Taking Pride in Harm Reduction
This piece was originally published by YouthRISE Executive Director Ailish Brennan as a Press Release for SSDP Ireland for both Support. Don’t Punish. and Pride Weekend Celebrations in Ireland. Pride has become a time defined by love and acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community (LGBTQ+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning and the + is for everyone else who identifies
Stigmatization and its Effects on Women Who Use Drugs
Author: Dele Fayemi ‘18, SSDP Nigeria This article was originally published by DPH News, to view the original article click here. According to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which was adopted in 1979, discrimination is defined thus: Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of the sex which has the
SSDP UK Committee Statement of Solidarity
SSDP’s UK committee stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and those currently protesting against police brutality in the US, the UK and across the globe. George Floyd was an unarmed black man who was killed after a police officer from Minneapolis, USA, kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes, while telling the police officers surrounding him
Participate in the Global Drug Survey
Got a spare 15 minutes? The Global Drug Survey wants to know about your drug and alcohol use during COVID-19. The Global Drug Survey (GDS) runs the world’s biggest annual drug survey. Consistent with their mantra of having “honest conversations about alcohol and other drugs”, the GDS asks people around the world about their recreational drug habits through a confidential
SSDP Board Commends African Network
Dear SSDP colleagues: At the direction of the SSDP Board of Directors, it is our great pleasure to convey to all of the members of SSDP’s network in Africa the attached Resolution unanimously adopted by the Board of Directors commending you for your outstanding growth and achievements. The African Network has in a few years created an inspiring model for all
Our U.S. Campus Policy Gradebook has been updated!
Written by Rob Hofmann ‘16, U.S. Movement Building Fellow Our public-facing U.S. Campus Policy Gradebook document has been updated to include submissions through May 2020! As you may have noticed, we also changed the title of the document from the Campus Policy Gradebook to the U.S. Campus Policy Gradebook, since the positive and negative aspects highlighted in the Gradebook are
Just Say Know Drug Education Roundup – April 2020
Things that aren’t Cannabis – CND Day 3
These blog posts are made in collaboration between CSSDP, SSDP and Youth RISE as part of our joint effort to provide youth with information about the Commission of Narcotic Drugs. We are the Paradigma Coalition. Authors: Alex Betsos (CSSDP) It’s day 3 of the 63rd session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. Today was the day for cannabis to be
The Early Rising Youth Activists
These blog posts are made in collaboration between CSSDP, SSDP and Youth RISE as part of our joint effort to provide youth with information about the Commission of Narcotic Drugs. We are the Paradigma Coalition. Author: Ailish Brennan (Youth RISE) The Second Day of the 63rd Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs started bright and early with
The Beginning of the most boring CND – or is it
These blog posts are made in collaboration between CSSDP, SSDP and Youth RISE as part of our joint effort to provide youth with information about the Commission of Narcotic Drugs. We are the Paradigma Coalition. Authors: Alex Betsos (CSSDP) and Róisín Downes (SSDP) Today is the 1st day of the 63rd session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).
Michigan SSDP Chapters Prepare Their Expungement Push at Civic Engagement Conference
Written by: Sarah Noon ‘18, Oakland Community College SSDP President Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapters from Oakland Community College and Wayne State University organized and coordinated a breakout session on the topic of sensible drug policy at Michigan Democratic Institution for Civic Engagement’s 2020 Student Engagement Conference. Sarah Noon ‘18, president and founder of OCC SSDP, serves as the
SSDP Report Card for January 2020
Setting the Records Straight: Response to CSOs Calling for Criminalization of Drug Use in Ghana
Students for Sensible Drug Policy joined with organisations from across Ghana and West Africa in response to a petition by 5 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) opposing the calls for decriminalisation of drug use and possession, particularly of cannabis. You can read more about the calls for decriminalisation in the region in the Model Drug Law for West Africa: A Tool
