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Video October 9, 2024

I Lost My Son to Overdose: Here’s Why We Need to Decriminalize Drugs

After losing her son to a preventable overdose, Susan became an advocate for decriminalizing drugs for personal use. She saw how policies based in punishment made it harder for him to seek and access the help he desperately needed.

Video October 9, 2024

I Lost My Son to Overdose: To Save Lives, We Need Drug Policies to Change

After seeing her son struggle and fail to get the help he needed for his addiction, Susan realized drug policies need to change.

Video October 9, 2024

I Lost My Son to Overdose: Here’s My Message to Other Parents

Susan lost her son to an overdose. She knows the pain of losing a child – and knows that her son’s pain was only made worse by failed systems and drug policies.

Video October 9, 2024

I Lost My Son to Overdose: Harm Reduction Helped Us Both

"Nobody wants to accept that their child might be injecting drugs. Not allowing them to have access to what they need is not going to stop them.” Harm reduction recognizes people use drugs, offering the support and tools needed to keep people alive and have a chance at recovery.

Video October 9, 2024

I Lost My Son to Overdose: He Sought Help, But Faced Barrier After Barrier

Susan’s son wanted help for his addiction. But he faced barrier after barrier in his search - from the criminal legal system, insurance companies, and more.

Video October 8, 2024

I Lost My Son to Overdose: Susan’s Story

Susan Ousterman lost her son Tyler to an accidental overdose of fentanyl and xylazine. Today, she advocates for a public health approach to drug use.

Report September 30, 2024

Report: The Drug Treatment Debate: Why Accessible and Voluntary Treatment Wins

We all want people living with addiction to get the help they need. Forced “treatment” is rejected by scientific and health researchers for being ineffective or harmful. Substance use disorder treatment should be voluntary, effective, affordable, accessible, and appealing.

Fact Sheet September 25, 2024

Fact Sheet: California’s Prop 36: The Wrong Approach on Drug Issues

California is experiencing an unprecedented overdose crisis that can only be addressed through health-based solutions. Prop 36 is a false solution that would divert funding from treatment, homeless services, and other vital programs.

September 4, 2024

Plunder, Profit, and Punishment: A Syllabus on Drug War Profiteering

In order to successfully end the drug war and its associated harms, we have to follow the money to see who is benefiting from systematically punitive responses.

Fact Sheet August 29, 2024

Fact Sheet: The False Promises of Oregon’s Drug Recriminalization

Policymakers must focus on implementing a thorough public health approach to drugs and real solutions to other pressing issues, not on the false promises of criminalizing drug possession.

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

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