Mission Statement:
Students for Sensible Drug Policy is an international grassroots
network of students who are 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 directly harm students and youth.
Values Statement:
Students for Sensible Drug Policy neither encourages nor
condemns drug use. Rather, we seek to reduce the harms caused by drug
abuse and drug policies. As young people, we strive toward a just and
compassionate society where drug abuse is treated as a health issue
instead of a criminal justice issue.We recognize that the very real
harms of drug abuse are not adequately addressed by current policies
and we advocate measures that would effectively help those who develop
drug problems. Yet, we also believe that individuals must ultimately be
allowed to make decisions for themselves as long as their actions do
not infringe upon anyone else's freedoms or safety.
Because the War on Drugs has historically been justified as
necessary to protect youth, it is our responsibility as young people to
stop this harmful war from being waged in our names any longer. As
scholars, we seek solutions to society's drug problems through focused
research, honest dialogue, and informed debate, instead of unquestioned
extremism, punishment, and propaganda.