It’s time to decriminalize drugs and invest in health services. Select a specific state to explore laws, arrest rates, overdose rates, and drug decriminalization legislation.
Each year, there are over1 million arrests for drug possession in the U.S.
In 2022, there were107,941 overdose deaths in the U.S.
We need a health approach to drugs, not more criminalization. Drug criminalization and prohibition have led to an unsafe, unregulated drug supply that’s driving the overdose crisis. Possession of even a small amount of drugs can land someone in jail, and saddle them with a lifelong criminal record that prevents them from getting a job, public benefits, or a place to live. Opioid overdose deaths among recently incarcerated people are 27 times higher than the general population in the first 2 weeks post-release.