The drug war has resulted in death and devastation for millions of Americans. A policy change could save lives, reduce fear, stigma, and shame amongst users and addicts, and help people receive the rehabilitation needed to move forward and pursue their life of choice rather than a life of punishment.
It's no surprise that Washingtonians are voting for safety over the status quo. The drug war has resulted in death and devastation for millions of Americans. A policy change could save lives, reduce fear, stigma, and shame amongst users and addicts, and help people receive the rehabilitation needed to move forward and pursue their life of choice rather than a life of punishment.
In an effort to push lawmakers towards a reform of the District's drug policies, activists in Washington DC surveyed voters to showcase public opinion regarding drug decriminalization. The survey found that the majority of respondents support the act of removing "criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of commonly-used controlled substances consistent with personal use," funding to establish 24/7 centers to reduce harm and prevent overdoses as well as funding to rehabilitate people "suffering from addiction, health problems, and needs relating to poverty to services like health care and substance use disorder treatment." Another poll instills hope for new drug policies in the near future: 72% of respondents stated that they would consider council members who support drug reforms over those who did not. A statement from Queen Adesuyi, policy manager for DPA's Office of National Affairs, reads below:
"Washingtonians can see for themselves that the drug war is worsening public safety and health. We are determined to push D.C. Council to listen to their constituents who largely want to see an actual investment in policies and resources rooted in evidence-based, health services instead of punishment and stigma...Though decriminalizing personal use quantities of drugs is not radical, and is simply an urgently needed next step in dismantling the harmful drug war, for some people, it challenges decades of socialization of fear and drug propaganda."
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