Public Health

For Immediate Release: June 27, 2007 For More Info: Tony Newman, T: (646)335-5384 The United States Conference of Mayors Passes Resolution Calling for a “New Bottom Line” in U.S. Drug Policy Urging Radical Policy Changes, the Nation’s Mayors Seek to Reduce the Harms of Both Drug Misuse and the Failed War on Drugs Mayors Resolve that the U.S. Must Focus on Reducing the Incarceration of Nonviolent Drug Law Violators, Preventing Overdose Fatalities, and Eliminating Racial Disparities Created or Exacerbated by the Drug War The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) made history last weekend by passing a resolution calling for a public health approach to the problems of substance use and abuse. “The mayors are clearly signaling the serious need for drug policy reform, an issue that ranks in importance among the most serious issues of the day,” said Daniel Abrahamson, director of legal affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. The resolution, sponsored by Mayor Rocky Anderson of Salt Lake City, Utah, was considered at the USCM 75th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, California. Adopted resolutions become the official policy of the USCM, which speaks as one voice to promote best practices and the most pressing priorities of our nation’s cities. In adopting this resolution, the mayors have declared that addiction is a chronic, treatable medical disorder and a broad public health concern, and outlined specific policy measures that they endorse. These include a clear imperative to: -Provide greater access to drug abuse treatment on demand, such as methadone and other maintenance therapies; -Eliminate the federal ban on funding sterile syringe access programs; -Establish local overdose prevention policies; and -Direct a greater percentage of drug-war funding toward evaluating the efficacy and accountability of current programs. The resolution further recognizes that U.S. policy should not be measured as it currently is simply by examining drug use levels or number of people imprisoned, but rather by a “New Bottom Line” based on how much drug-related harm is reduced. National drug policy should focus on reducing social problems like drug addiction, overdose deaths, the spread of HIV/AIDS from injection drug use, racial disparities in the criminal justice system, and the enormous number of nonviolent offenders behind bars. Federal drug agencies should be judged—and funded—according to their ability to meet these goals. Moreover, since the impact of drug policies is most acutely felt in local communities, evaluation and decision-making must occur at the local level—and federal funding should go toward enabling communities to pursue those policies that best meet the unique challenges of substance abuse.

Harm Reduction Coalition Statement: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, 2007 The HIV/AIDS crisis among African Americans demands increased commitment, innovative strategies, and coordinated action by government, community-based organizations, civic and religious groups, and the African American community. African Americans make up nearly half of all AIDS cases in the United States, and over half of new HIV diagnoses. The majority of women and infants living with HIV are African American.

For Immediate Release February 2, 2007 Contact: Luciano Colonna, Tel: 801-635-7736 Methamphetamine Conference Controversy Raised in Salt Lake City: National leaders and researchers hold each other to account

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2006 PRESS CONTACT: Luciano Colonna, 801-635-7736 SALT LAKE CITY CONFERENCE CONFRONTS THE METH CRISIS: National Conference brings all sides together to address the realities of methamphetamine use in America

Federal NDP Passes Emergency Motion to Protect InSite, Safe Injection Site Dear Friends, The work and action taken at the grass roots level to bring the issue of InSite to national and international attention was remarkable. I really want to thank all of you who took the time to respond to our call for help. It made a huge difference and really demonstrates how, when we work together, it can pay off!

For Immediate Release: September 7, 2006 Contact: Tony Newman (646) 335-5384 OR Bill Piper (202) 669-6430 New Government Survey Shows Illegal Drug Use Rates Holding Steady; Drug War Critics Point to Overwhelming Failure