Drug Policy Alliance

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is a non-profit organization based in New York City, United States. It is dedicated to advancing drug policies that are grounded in science, compassion, health, and human rights. The organization was founded in 2000 by Ethan Nadelmann, a prominent advocate for drug policy reform.

Pronunciation

Drug Policy Alliance: /drʌɡ pɒlɪsi əˈlaɪəns/

Etymology

The term "Drug Policy Alliance" is a combination of three words: "drug", "policy", and "alliance". "Drug" is derived from the Old French drogue, possibly from Middle Dutch droge-vate (dry barrels), referring to medicinal substances. "Policy" comes from the French police, from Latin politia which means civil administration. "Alliance" is from the Old French aliance, meaning union or assemblage.

Related Terms

Overview

The Drug Policy Alliance envisions a just society in which the use and regulation of drugs are grounded in science, compassion, health, and human rights. It aims to promote policies and attitudes that reduce the harms of both drug use and drug prohibition. The organization works to ensure that people are no longer punished for what they put into their own bodies but only for crimes committed against others.

The DPA's efforts are guided by its principles of harm reduction. It believes that drug education and treatment should be available to those who need it and that the criminal justice system should not be the primary institution for addressing drug use.

The organization's work ranges from grassroots activism to shaping policy at the national level. It has been instrumental in achieving significant policy reforms, including marijuana legalization in several states, sentencing reform, and the establishment of overdose prevention programs.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Drug Policy Alliance
Wikipedia's article - Drug Policy Alliance

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Drug Policy Alliance