Students for Sensible Drug Policy

justburnsey: Out of the shadows … into the light

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 22:54:47 -0400

justburnsey:

Out of the shadows … into the light

lezparadosparadise: The flower, obviously, is a metaphor for...

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:42:55 -0400

lezparadosparadise:

The flower, obviously, is a metaphor for cannabis. End the drug war!

lezparadosparadise: fuckyeahdrugpolicy: accurate (via Alec...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:00:36 -0500

lezparadosparadise:

fuckyeahdrugpolicy:

accurate (via Alec Foster)

So accurate! Portland State SSDP forever!

Photo

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:32:11 -0500

Photo

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:05:06 -0500

fuckyeahdrugpolicy: I put together this image as part of a...

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:39:08 -0500

fuckyeahdrugpolicy:

I put together this image as part of a typography assignment about a year or two ago. It’s a reference to a mantra often repeated by most politicians—whether they are from the United States or Mexico—to justify the aggressive policies of the drug war: “We’re doing it for the children! We’ve got to protect the children!” For those who understand the consequences of drug prohibition, it’s clear that it’s done little to keep children safe.

This excerpt is from pages 29-30 of Children of the Drug War: Perspectives on the Impact of Drug Policies on Young People

Children: The Forgotten Victims in Mexico’s Drug War

The “war on drugs,” in most places, is metaphorical. The term is rarely used by governments and was recently abandoned as a rhetorical device by the United States. In Mexico, however, the war on drugs has a very real dimension. It is “declared” government policy, it is militarized, and it is extremely bloody. Shortly after taking power, President Felipe Calderón ordered a military offensive against the country’s drug cartels that eventually involved tens of thousands of troops. Keeping drugs away from Mexico’s children has been a central justification.

While the consequent violence in Mexico has been well documented, the specific consequences for children are not so often brought to the fore. Despite President Calderón’s justification based on the welfare of children, his decision, combined with a zero-tolerance approach to drug use, has contributed to conditions in which children have been killed, orphaned, and neglected. Since the war on drugs began, there have been increased killings of children and parents with thousands dead and tens of thousands orphaned; increased attacks on drug rehabilitation centers, including massacres of young drug users; and increased attacks on schools resulting in a significant drop in school attendance for fear of violence.

It becomes clear that the harms of the drug war not only exist in the present but also will reverberate through many generations due to the specific harms inflicted on children. Next to them, the small gains against the cartels are rendered meaningless. After four years of poor results in frontally combating drug cartels and adopting zero-tolerance approaches to drugs, rethinking government strategies is now unavoidable. +

Photo

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:23:24 -0500

Video

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:21:32 -0500

In vivo studies reveal that Δ(9)-THC and JWH-015 reduce the growth of HCC (Hepatocellular carcinoma) subcutaneous xenografts

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:38:41 -0500

In vivo studies reveal that Δ(9)-THC and JWH-015 reduce the growth of HCC (Hepatocellular carcinoma) subcutaneous xenografts

Photo

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:17:29 -0500

Humans vs. Zombies (October 31st)

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:05:41 -0400

Humans vs. Zombies (October 31st)

Humans vs. Zombies ! Monday, Oct 31, 12:00 PM @ PSU Park...

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:36:13 -0400

Humans vs. Zombies !

Monday, Oct 31, 12:00 PM @ PSU Park Blocks

(Click the image for Facebook event page!)

SSDP Baked Sale in the PSU Park Blocks!! (Oct 24)

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:44:42 -0400

SSDP Baked Sale in the PSU Park Blocks!! (Oct 24)

HUMANS VS ZOMBIES!!

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:51:17 -0400

HUMANS VS ZOMBIES!!

Increasingly awesome statistics, hypocritical politicians, and a...

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:54:39 -0400

Increasingly awesome statistics, hypocritical politicians, and a dramatic delivery in pure MSNBC fashion.

Candidate Obama got lots of praise for his sensible positions on...

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:26:08 -0400

Candidate Obama got lots of praise for his sensible positions on medical marijuana… This is what President Obama has to show for it!

The effect of the Fourth Amendment on a Police officer. Enjoy...

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:00:59 -0400

The effect of the Fourth Amendment on a Police officer.

Enjoy and know your rights!!

"Drug and alcohol violations are up" - Kali Simmons, PSU Vanguard

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:23:23 -0400

[Copied from today’s PSU Vanguard, Page 2]

PSU residence halls see increase in violations and arrests

Over the last year, Portland State has seen a consistent increase in the amount of drug and alcohol violations in on-campus housing. And according to Clery crime statistics – a report produced annually by all US colleges and universities – liquor law and drug law violations on the PSU campus have been on the rise.

“The Clery statistics are gathered from a variety of sources, including university officials, the Portland Police Bureau and Campus Public Safety,” said Philip Zerzan, director of Portland State’s Campus Public Safety Office (CPSO).

“For an offense to qualify as an alcohol or drug offense in the Clery statistics, it must involve a violation of the law that results in either an arrest or a referral for disciplinary procedure,” Zerzan said.

In 2008, there were 203 liquor law referrals on campus, resulting in 4 arrests; in 2010, there were 363 referrals and 14 arrests. Of the 363 liquor law referrals, 100% of them occurred in PSU’s residence halls.

Last year, 100% of the 164 drug law referrals also occurred in the residence halls. The number of drug law referrals has almost tripled since 2008, when there were 58 total drug law referrals and 50 referrals in on-campus housing.

This year, Residence Life has introduced a new aspect to the consequences of a liquor law violation. “Under The Influence” is a tier one preventative program that uses an on-line module to educated users about the risks involved with excessive, illegal, or dangerous alcohol consumption.

Statistics gathered by Third Millennium Classrooms, the provider of the Under The Influence program, show that 80 percent of students who took the course considered it “interesting and helpful.” Additionally, 77 percent of students who took the course said it would help them avoid future problems with alcohol.

“It has a lot of educational components to it, to show what alcohol is doing to your body,” said Nachel Glynn, the conduct coordinator for Residential Life and the staff member who proposed utilizing the Under The Influence program at PSU. Statistics based on when you started drinking and how much you reported drinking show what kind of risk factors you’re facing, Glynn said.

The numbers at PSU remain high when compared to those of other urban universities, such as the University of Chicago. In 2010 there were 13 disciplinary referrals for alcohol in University of Chicago residence halls; its student body – approximately 15 000 students – is about half the size of PSU’s.

Boston University is an urban university with about 30 000 students – a number comparable to enrollment figures at PSU. In 2009, BU had 421 liquor and 33 drug law referrals in tis residence halls. The university’s 2010 Clery report had not been released at press time.

While 76 percent of BU students live on campus, according to Boston University student housing statistics, on ly 6.7 percent of PSU students live in residence halls.

The statistics may not be as shocking as they first appear. “Alcohol violation,” for example, is an umbrella term that ranges from possessing an empty beer can to being suspected of being under the influence to drinking in public.

Violations issued by PSU can also include being present in the midst of underage drinking. Additionally, arrests on campus may include non-students.

PSU, like many other universities, prefers to run students through its own disciplinary method rather than turn violators over to the penal system.

“We want [students] to learn and grow, to become positive members of our communities,” Glynn said. “I try to tailor-make a sanction that can help them grow academically, professionally, or personally in their wellness.”

This is standard policy across the large majority of college campuses, according to Glynn.

Across the nation, colleges turn to resident assistants and campus security rather than police to handle any illegal activity on campus.

Resident assistants at PSU are trained in a vigorous program. This year, PSU increased the duration of the training program from one week to two. Resident assistants are trained by members of the CPSO, the Queer Resource Center, and the Women’s Resource Center.

Students who attend PSU and break policies are subject to a hearing and if found guilty, are issued a warning. Additionally, a sanction including fees, writing a paper or creating poster can be issued. Sanctions are determined on a case-by-case basis.

PSU policy states that for a drug or alcohol offense, “the first violation will result in a $50 fee, a second violation of the same or similar nature will result in a $75 fee, and the fee will increase by an additional $25 for each subsequent violation of the same nature.”

By Kali Simmons

Vanguard Staff

California Governor Brown signs Needle Access bills

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:08:31 -0400

California Governor Brown signs Needle Access bills:

In a bold political move that could save thousands of lives, Governor Jerry Brown expands the harm reduction options in California. The first bill allows for the sale of sterile syringes without a prescription, and the second would facilitate the establishment of needle exchange programs. For those not familiar with needle exchange, the idea is to provide injection drug users with sterile, unused syringes, to prevent the spread of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other diseases transmitted by the sharing of dirty needles. Way to go Jerry Brown!

"Steve Jobs and drug policy" by Glenn Greenwald

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 18:21:11 -0400

"Steve Jobs and drug policy" by Glenn Greenwald