28 September 2010: is it time to call a truce on the 'war on drugs'?

We all know how to respond to the threat of drugs in our communities, don’t we? All we need to do is stop them entering the country whilst encouraging our children to just say ‘no’ – drugs are evil and dangerous and drug-users equally so.

Yet we also know that this is a war no one is winning, a fact increasingly acknowledged by politicians, law enforcers, policy advisers and governments around the world. Despite billions of pounds spent annually, worldwide, in trying to control drug production, supply and use, cocaine and heroin consumption has been rising consistently.

Darryl Bickler, a former criminal law and human rights solicitor and co-founder of the Drug Equality Alliance, believes that sensible use of drugs can benefit the individual and society and that we must stop misusing both the law and the language to create the fear and prejudices that continue to restrain any sensible change in attitude and policy.
Paul Peart of Lifeline Kirklees, a local drug and alcohol treatment service, will be talking how the organisation works with people who are badly affected by substance misuse, and explain some of the issues surrounding the drugs debate.

Come along, join the debate, and tell us what you think.

The details:

Tuesday 28 September 2010

Doors open 6.00
Debate starts 6.30

Café Ollo
The Media Centre
7 Northumberland Street
Huddersfield
HD1 1RL

£2.50 or donation