Chapters

Become an SSDPer!

Join the Youth Movement to End the War on Drugs!

Start a new chapter of SSDP, join an existing chapter or committee, and get involved!

By starting a Students for Sensible Drug Policy Campus Chapter, Community Chapter, or becoming an SSDP Ambassador in your area, you can join the youth movement to end the War on Drugs. SSDP provides training, guidance, materials, and support to empower current youth activists and future thought leaders and changemakers.

Becoming an SSDPer takes a little work, but it isn’t prohibitively difficult or time-intensive, and is a great way to help serve your community. Unlike most chapter-based student organizations, we do not charge our chapters any dues or fees. We also have tons of free, useful resources to help you build your chapter, spread the word, lobby for key issues, and actually change drug laws at the local, state, and federal level (see our active campaigns here)

The steps below outline the typical process of starting an SSDP chapter. Every school, chapter, and chapter leader is different, so take this more as a general guide than hard requirements. Stay in touch with SSDP as you go through the steps and keep us up to date on your progress so we can help with any snags that may come up along the way. We’re here to be a resource for you!

Click here to get started

How to Join SSDP

There are many different ways you can get involved in SSDP!

SSDP Campus Chapter

We encourage active or future students to start SSDP Campus Chapters in order to organize on highschool, college, and university campuses. SSDP Campus Chapters are officially registered campus clubs and have the ability to utilize their school’s resources to host events, workshops, or other club activities.

Steps to Becoming an SSDP Campus Chapter

Fill out this form.

Look for an introductory email from SSDP.

Attend an SSDP Orientation

Start working towards getting your chapter recognized on your campus. Most schools require an advisor, 6 – 12 active members, and a constitution or club governance form. SSDP’s Chapter Development Director is here to help you get through this process!

Start meeting regularly as a group and working towards actions or goals that help further SSDP’s Mission

Remain in regular contact with SSDP.

Getting Started: Structuring Your SSDP Campus Chapter

SSDP Community Chapter

A SSDP Community Chapter is formed by at least one SSDP Alum (someone who was formerly an SSDP Ambassador or a member of another SSDP Chapter) and is composed of community members, instead of students.

Steps to Becoming an SSDP Community Chapter

Fill out this form.

Look for an introductory email from SSDP.

Attend an SSDP Orientation

Start meeting regularly as a group and working towards actions or goals that help further SSDP’s Mission

Remain in regular contact with SSDP.

Getting Started: Structuring Your SSDP Community Chapter

SSDP Ambassador

SSDP Ambassadors are powerful, trusted voices who can amplify the reach of SSDP’s mission, but lack the capacity to start and run a chapter themselves.

Steps to Becoming an SSDP Ambassador

Fill out this form.

Look for an introductory email from SSDP.

Attend an SSDP Orientation

Regularly attend SSDP committee meetings, online trainings, Chapter Networking Collective meetings, or attend an in person SSDP event.

Remain in regular contact with SSDP.

Getting Started: Becoming an SSDP Ambassador

Join a Committee

Committees allow SSDPers with similar interests from different parts of the country to work together on special projects and initiatives. Please contact SSDP for more information.

For additional questions, please contact ssdp@ssdp.org.

Find a Chapter

We are replacing the disastrous war on drugs with policies rooted in evidence, compassion, and human rights.