Drug Law Reform Blog Posts

ESPN Documentary to Explore Crack Disparity’s Misguided Origins

suzanne_ito — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:10:00 -0500

As part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series of documentary films, they will be airing Without Bias tonight at 8pm (with additional airings on their various sister networks over the coming months).

Sen. Durbin Takes on Crack Myths and The Washington Post

suzanne_ito — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:52:00 -0500

On Saturday, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) had a letter to the editor published in The Washington Post that challenged claims the newspaper made in a recent editorial on crack cocaine sentencing reform.

Wake Up California: It’s Time to Get Real About Criminal Justice Reform

suzanne_ito — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:54:00 -0400

(Originally posted on Daily Kos.)

House Vote on Syringe Exchange Programs a Victory for Public Health

Michelle Trone — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:12:00 -0400

Last week, Congress took an important step in the fight against HIV/AIDS with a historic vote on syringe exchange programs. On July 25, the House voted to remove the ban on providing federal funding for syringe exchange programs.

Since 1988, the federal government has prohibited states from using their share of HIV/AIDS prevention money in syringe exchange programs, one of the most effective programs available to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic, as well as Hepatitis C and other blood-borne illnesses. This policy was based on ideology rather than on evidence, and the repeal of this ban signifies that Congress is finally realizing that needle exchange programs are a safe and effective approach in reducing the public health problems associated with drugs.

Syringe exchange programs allow intravenous drug users to obtain hypodermic needles and associated injection equipment at little or no cost, and most of these services allow drug users to exchange used, dirty needles for new ones. They also often provide other public health services, such as HIV and Hepatitis C testing and access to substance abuse counseling. Numerous federally funded studies have shown that needle exchanges slow the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and that they do not increase substance abuse. This scientific evidence has been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institute of Health (NIH), World Health Organization (WHO), and the American Medical Association, among others. See the CDC’s Report here (PDF) confirming that needle exchange programs are helpful not only in reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS, but also as a way to get intravenous drug users into healthcare programs and to treatment that helps to get them off drugs.

Syringe exchanges are cost-effective and life saving programs. Each year,nearly 8,000 people in the US contract HIV/AIDS,and about 12,000 contract Hepatitis C,directly or indirectly from sharing contaminated syringes.The cost of preventing one case of HIV infection through syringe exchange programs is approximately $4,000 to $12,000, and yields savings of as much as $648,000 in medical costs per HIV infection and approximately $25,000 to $30,000 in medical costs per Hepatitis C infection prevented. Allowing states to use federal funding for these programs will help decrease the spread of these diseases.

Another Huge Step Towards Cracking the Disparity

suzanne_ito — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:36:00 -0400

Last week, we commended the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security for doing a markup of the long-awaited Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009 (H.R. 3245), sponsored by Rep. Robert Scott (D-Va.). This week, we have even more to cheer about: yesterday, the full House Judiciary Committee voted in favor of the bill by a vote of 16-9.

Finally Cracking the Disparity: It's About Time!

suzanne_ito — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:33:00 -0400

Wednesday marked a historic moment: the House of Representatives did a markup of the long-awaited Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009 (H.R. 3245), sponsored by Rep. Robert Scott (D-Va.). The ACLU has been pushing for this moment for the past 22 years. Why is this bill so significant?

Civics 101

suzanne_ito — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:20:00 -0400

Savana Redding and her mother, April, are plaintiffs in the case Safford Unified School District v. Redding, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court today. The Court ruled that school officials violated Savana's constitutional rights when they strip searched her based on a classmate's uncorroborated accusation that she previously possessed ibuprofen. Savana was 13-years-old at the time of the incident.

VICTORY! Supreme Court Finds Strip-Search of 13-Year Old Girl Unconstitutional

suzanne_ito — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:12:00 -0400

The Supreme Court today ruled that school officials violated the constitutional rights of a 13-year-old Arizona girl when they strip searched her based on a classmate's uncorroborated accusation that she previously possessed ibuprofen. The ACLU's Drug Law Reform Project represented April Redding, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, whose daughter, Savana Redding, was strip searched by Safford Middle School officials six years ago.

Moving with "Dispatch" to Crack the Disparity

suzanne_ito — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:32:00 -0400

Yesterday, Attorney General Holder appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a semiannual check-up (a.k.a. congressional oversight). Attorney General Holder was questioned about a many issues of interest to the ACLU. However, there was one question and answer that left me feeling cautiously hopeful.

A Better Way to Balance the Budget—and Protect Public Safety

suzanne_ito — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:31:00 -0400

A series of common sense, waste-cutting proposals would address two of California's biggest problems: our overburdened, dysfunctional corrections system, and the ever increasing multibillion dollar deficit. Implementing these proposals would save the state $7.5 billion in five years and improve public safety, so what are we waiting for?