IMPORTANT
Spotlight! Symposium: Lawrence Grandpre
Drug Decriminalization from a Reparations Perspective
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 · 12 - 1 PM
Drug Decriminalization from a Reparations Perspective
2021 had the highest rate of death by overdose in American history, with over 100,000 Americans dead. In opposition to the "Just Say No" ideology of the 80's and 90's - harm reduction rejects abstinence-only dogma and promotes "any positive change" toward more healthy and more controlled substance use. Yet in the Black community, which has faced decades of addiction struggle - some have raised issues with harm reduction apparently "libertarian" and "permissive" attitudes toward drug use. This talk focuses on the role of the war on drug/ drug criminalization in Maryland in hollowing out the capacity of communities to support healthy functioning. Specifically, this presentation will discuss how patterns of drug war incarceration hinder the production of social capital in targeted communities necessary to build institutions. This is why community-centered reparations are an essential component to drug decriminalization.