Students for Sensible Drug Policy Australia Ltd

Students for Sensible Drug Policy Australia Ltd (SSDP Australia) is a nonprofit youth-led organization focused on advocating for evidence-based drug policy reform in Australia. The organization is part of the global Students for Sensible Drug Policy network, which aims to replace the War on Drugs with policies rooted in compassion, human rights, and scientific evidence. SSDP Australia engages primarily with young people to amplify their voices in drug policy debates and promote harm reduction and drug education initiatives.

Mission and Values

SSDP Australia is dedicated to promoting sensible drug policies that prioritize health, human rights, and harm reduction over punitive approaches. The organization respects individual autonomy regarding drug use and supports youth civic engagement as a key mechanism for reform. It operates with principles of shared power, youth leadership, collaboration, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism. SSDP neither condones nor condemns drug use but seeks to empower young people to make informed decisions and advocate for just policy changes.

Activities and Campaigns

SSDP Australia’s work encompasses research, education, advocacy, and community engagement:

• Research and Evidence: The organization connects young people with factual, evidence-based information about drugs and drug policy.

• Drug Education: SSDP Australia provides peer-to-peer education programs to increase drug literacy among youth and the broader community.

• Advocacy: The group actively places youth voices in policymaking processes and campaigns for reforms in national and international drug policies.

Key campaigns include:

• #beheardnotharmed: Focused on sharing lived experiences and advocating for pill testing and harm reduction services to reduce drug-related harms among young people.

• #SupportDontPunish: A global campaign coordinated with the International Drug Policy Consortium that calls for drug policies based on health and human rights, marked annually by a day of action on June 26.

Campus Engagement

SSDP Australia works extensively within educational institutions to transform drug policies on campuses. The organization promotes replacing punitive disciplinary actions with supportive, health-centered approaches and expands harm reduction initiatives through partnerships with service providers.

Global Network

As part of the international SSDP network, SSDP Australia collaborates with youth organizations worldwide to share resources, standardize peer education, and coordinate advocacy campaigns aimed at ending the War on Drugs.

Impact

SSDP Australia has achieved significant impacts in elevating youth participation in drug policy discourse, influencing both national and international drug policy reforms. Its efforts have strengthened harm reduction services and built a community of informed young advocates promoting safer and more rational drug policies.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy Australia Ltd operates as a registered charity in Australia, with its activities governed by a youth-led board and supported by a broad membership base across the country.

[1] https://www.ssdp.org.au [2] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/9adec9dc-e5d2-ea11-a813-000d3ad1f497 [3] https://ssdp.org [4] https://actionnetwork.org/groups/ssdp-australia [5] https://ssdp.org/about/