Original action alert language written by Lindsey Galbo ’19, Wake Forest University School of Medicine SSDP Chapter Leader and Scientific Research Issue Group Member

As drug policy reformers, it is important for us to recognize the necessity of funding drug research to better understand factors that contribute to different types of substance use, new potential pharmacological and behavioral treatments, harm reduction, and how each of these ultimately contribute to evidence-based, sensible drug policy reform that will aid in stopping the War on Drugs.

SSDP is joining hundreds of organizations that are recommending that the National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) receive necessary funding increases in Fiscal Year 2022. Sizable portions of the NIH and NSF budgets each year are invested in research addressing important issues such as mental health and the impacts of COVID-19 on people who use drugs. Additionally, the NSF has not received a real budget increase in the last 20 years, which reduces their capacity for research into substances and substance use.

Use this link to contact your federal representatives in support of a sizable budget increase to the National Institute of Health and National Science Foundation for FY2022!