Sensibly end the "War on Drugs," support SSDP!

Students for Sensible Drug Policy, SSDP, is an international grassroots organization consisting of a network of university students concerned about the impact drug abuse has on our communities, but who also know that the War on Drugs is failing our generation and our society. SSDP mobilizes and empowers young people to participate in the political process, pushing for sensible policies to achieve a safer and more just future while fighting back against counterproductive Drug War policies, particularly those that harm students and youth. In 2011, SSDP was granted official consultative status at the United Nations. SSDP neither condones nor condemns drug use, instead focusing on respecting individuals' autonomous choices and proactively working to reduce any potential harms of those choices. In recent years accidental overdoses have skyrocketed, with over 100,000 lives being lost in 2021 alone. For years, the War on Drugs has only focused on the criminalization of drugs and those who use them, a tactic that has clearly been shown to be ineffective at stopping addiction, and instead has resulted in mass incarceration that has further destabilized our communities. SSDP advocates for a sensible alternative, one of harm-reduction, which focuses on rehabilitating people struggling with addiction through empathy, compassion, and community support for individual autonomy.

Harm Reduction includes things such as: handing out free Narcan, which is a simple nasal spray that can immediately reverse the effects of an opiate overdose. Holding training sessions on identifying signs of an overdose and properly administering the Narcan if someone around you is experiencing one. Giving out non-biased, evidence-based information on substances and which combinations are safe versus toxic. Providing free fentanyl testing strips to students and holding educational seminars on campus that educate students on how to test their substances properly and why doing so is essential. College youth are often particularly vulnerable to drug misuse as they are on their own for the first time, going to parties with new people, and trying new things with little awareness of potential dangers beyond "drugs are bad and addictive." Instead of demanding sobriety as the only solution, SSDP aims to arm students with the knowledge and ability to make informed decisions and protect and care for themselves and others who decide to use drugs.

This goal of further educating and protecting our community is why we are reaching out to students, parents, and other community members who have been affected by, witnessed, or are simply interested in learning more about the adverse effects caused by the War on Drugs. Our goal is to raise a minimum of $500 to support the operations of SSDP and its chapters. Money raised will help support youth engagement at all levels of government and support harm reduction services led by youth at universities everywhere. This can mean providing students with banners and tabling supplies, funding student trips to educational conferences and seminars, creating internships and career advancement opportunities, and simply helping to strengthen our organizational network. When you choose to donate to SSDP, not only are you empowering our youth to take an active role in shaping society's future, you're also potentially saving lives by facilitating the growth of harm reduction service networks that actively work to mitigate the harms of drug use. We kindly ask you to please be sensible and support SSDP!

For more information and opportunities to get involved,

Here is a link to their website

Pictured: An SSDP table set up by the University of North Texas chapter, collecting signatures for their ballot initiative petition.