Open letter calling for drug policy reform

Our Director Richard Garside was one of more than 80 individuals and organisations who signed an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for a review of the United Kingdom's approach to illegal drugs.

The letter was organised by drugs charity Release and published yesterday as part of the Global Day of Action, to raise awareness of the harms caused by the war on drugs. It points out that in the past 15 years, over 1.5 million people have been criminalised in the UK for drugs possession.

Richard said:

'It makes as much sense to prosecute someone for being addicted to drugs as it does to prosecute an alcoholic.

'We launched our Justice Matters initiative to champion effective solutions to the social and health problems too often treated as crime problems. Drugs use is a health problem, not a crime problem, and should be treated as such.'

Read the letter on the Release website or download it below.