WE ARE THE DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE.

Drug policy grounded in evidence, health, equity, & human rights.

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) addresses the harms of drug use and drug criminalization through policy solutions, organizing, and public education. We advocate for a holistic approach to drugs that prioritizes health, social supports, and community wellbeing. DPA opposes punitive approaches that destabilize people, block access to care, and drain communities of resources. We believe that the regulation of drugs should be grounded in evidence, health, equity, and human rights. In collaboration with other movements, we change laws, advance justice, and save lives.

Drug Criminalization Blocks Care.

Drug criminalization diverts taxpayer dollars and funding away from health services and treatment. Arrest records and felony convictions follow people for years, which can result in people losing access to housing, employment, and more. The U.S. government must instead prioritize supporting people to make communities safer and healthier.

View all Drug Stats

1 MILLION arrests for drug possession each year in the U.S.

Learn More Source: FBI

$47 BILLION spent by the U.S. government each year enforcing the drug war.

Learn More Source: CATO Institute

Campaigns

We need health-based drug policies. DPA leads campaigns to expand health and addiction services, supportive services, and end the punishment of people who use drugs.

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Civic Engagement

Voters can change laws and save lives. DPA educates voters on drug policy issues so that they can make informed decisions.

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Movement Building

Drug policy affects everyone. DPA partners with impacted people, policymakers, advocates, and researchers, including at our Reform conference, to drive change.

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Public Education

Misinformation and fear fuel drug policy stigma. DPA shares facts, evidence, and stories to highlight the need for reforms that prioritize health and equity.

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Research & Academic Engagement

Drug policy must be rooted in evidence. DPA supports and learns from researchers, academics, and impacted people to develop and advocate for evidence-based reforms.

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DPA staff hug after a visit to the Housing Works cannabis dispensary in New York City.

Safety. Health. Recovery.

We’re building a future where…

Addiction treatment is available on demand, and life-saving medications are within reach.
Funding supports communities, not prisons.
People who use drugs have access to the information and resources they need to stay safe.
Anyone in crisis can get immediate help.
Drug policy is rooted in health, not punishment.

…we—and our loved ones—can live full, healthy lives together.

Issues & Solutions

DPA works to prevent overdose deaths, expand addiction services, end drug criminalization, and more, prioritizing the health and well-being of those who use drugs.

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Our Advocacy Changes Lives

Since 2000, DPA has pioneered transformative drug policies in the U.S. and beyond, leading the movement to treat drug use as a health issue, not a crime.

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Support DPA

The Drug Policy Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We rely on private donations to end the drug war and advance health-focused, equitable policies. Thank you for your vital support.

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A young woman holds a sign that says "End the Drug War."