Transform Drug Policy Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Transform Drug Policy Foundation (TDPF) is a registered non-profit charity based in the United Kingdom
working in the field of drug policy and law reform. TDPF began as an independent campaign group called 'Transform, the campaign for a just and effective drug policy', and was set up in 1996 by its current Head of External Affairs, Danny Kushlick
. The organisation achieved charitable status 2003 and was renamed 'Transform Drug Policy Foundation' in 2004. In 2007 Transform became the first UK based non-governmental organization
(NGO) actively calling for the drug law reform, including the legal regulation drug production supply and use, to be granted special consultative status at the United Nations
.
TDPF describe their activities as to:
Transform's Vision:
The organization believes that the current UK drug policies are not only failing but have themselves become the cause of many social problems. As an independent drug policy think tank
, TDPF is consulted regularly by its key audiences in policy making, the NGO sector and the media .
TDPF develops, and advocates for, new policies to bring currently illegal drugs under effective legal control and regulation, based on evidence of effectiveness, claiming that current policy is outdated and demonstrably counter-productive, being based on populist law and order politics and a misplaced 'drug war' ideologies. TDPF argue that moves towards legal regulation and control of currently illegal drugs would produce dramatically improved policy outcomes as measured by key performance indicators in crime, public health and well being, social nuisance, environmental damage, international corruption and conflict, and public expenditure.
and misuse of statistics
.
Transform has published the following books
• After the War on Drugs: Blueprint for Regulation (November 2009.)
• After the War on Drugs: Tools for the Debate (October 2007)
• After the War on Drugs: Options for control (October 2004)
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
working in the field of drug policy and law reform. TDPF began as an independent campaign group called 'Transform, the campaign for a just and effective drug policy', and was set up in 1996 by its current Head of External Affairs, Danny Kushlick
Danny Kushlick
Danny Kushlick is a British politician and founder of the Transform Drug Policy Foundation . He stood in the 2010 United Kingdom general election for The People's Manifesto.-Career:...
. The organisation achieved charitable status 2003 and was renamed 'Transform Drug Policy Foundation' in 2004. In 2007 Transform became the first UK based non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
(NGO) actively calling for the drug law reform, including the legal regulation drug production supply and use, to be granted special consultative status at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
Policies
The TDPF mission statement is:"Transform Drug Policy Foundation exists to promote sustainable health and wellbeing by bringing about a just, effective and humane system to regulate and control drugs at local, national and international levels. "
TDPF describe their activities as to:
- Carry out research, policy analysis and innovative policy development
- Challenge government to demonstrate rational, fact-based evidence to support its policies and expenditure
- Promote alternative, evidence-based policies to parliamentarians, government and government agencies
- Advise non-governmental organisations whose work is affected by drugs in developing drug policies appropriate to their own mission and objectives
- Provide an informed, rational and clear voice in the public and media debate on UK and international drug policy
Transform's Vision:
"A world in which the War on Drugs is over and effective and humane systems of drug regulation have been established."
- Social justice: restoration of human rights and dignity to the marginalised and disadvantaged, and regeneration of deprived neighbourhoods
- Reduced social costs: an end to the largest cause of acquisitive crime and street prostitution, and consequent falls in the non-violent prison population
- Reduced serious crime: dramatic curtailment of opportunities and incentives for organised and violent crime
- Public finances: the financial benefits of discontinued drug enforcement expenditure and the taxation of regulated drugs
- Public health: creation of an environment in which drug use can be managed and drug users can lead healthier lives
- Ethics: adherence to ethical standards and principles, including fair trade, in the manufacture, supply and distribution of drugs
- Reduced war and conflict: an end to the illegal drug trade's contribution to conflict and political instability in producer and transit countries
The organization believes that the current UK drug policies are not only failing but have themselves become the cause of many social problems. As an independent drug policy think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
, TDPF is consulted regularly by its key audiences in policy making, the NGO sector and the media .
TDPF develops, and advocates for, new policies to bring currently illegal drugs under effective legal control and regulation, based on evidence of effectiveness, claiming that current policy is outdated and demonstrably counter-productive, being based on populist law and order politics and a misplaced 'drug war' ideologies. TDPF argue that moves towards legal regulation and control of currently illegal drugs would produce dramatically improved policy outcomes as measured by key performance indicators in crime, public health and well being, social nuisance, environmental damage, international corruption and conflict, and public expenditure.
Public impact
TDPF has been steadily gaining support from professionals and public figures; whose fields include policy making, academia, business, church, judiciary, police, media, public health and medicine. Transform regularly appear in mainstream media debating, advising and responding to current issues within the drug policy field.Other activities
TDPF have a blog which covers current media coverage often highlighting the myths, moral panicMoral panic
A moral panic is the intensity of feeling expressed in a population about an issue that appears to threaten the social order. According to Stanley Cohen, author of Folk Devils and Moral Panics and credited creator of the term, a moral panic occurs when "[a] condition, episode, person or group of...
and misuse of statistics
Misuse of statistics
A misuse of statistics occurs when a statistical argument asserts a falsehood. In some cases, the misuse may be accidental. In others, it is purposeful and for the gain of the perpetrator. When the statistical reason involved is false or misapplied, this constitutes a statistical fallacy.The false...
.
Transform has published the following books
• After the War on Drugs: Blueprint for Regulation (November 2009.)
• After the War on Drugs: Tools for the Debate (October 2007)
• After the War on Drugs: Options for control (October 2004)
See also
- Arguments for and against drug prohibitionArguments for and against drug prohibitionArguments about the prohibition of drugs, and over drug policy reform, are subjects of considerable controversy. The following is a presentation of major drug policy arguments, including those for drug law enforcement on one side of the debate, and arguments for drug law reform on the other.-...
- Drug policy reformDrug policy reformDrug policy reform, also known as drug law reform, is a term used to describe proposed changes to the way most governments respond to the socio-cultural influence on perception of psychoactive substance use...
- Law Enforcement Against ProhibitionLaw Enforcement Against ProhibitionLaw Enforcement Against Prohibition is a non-profit, international, educational organization comprising former and current police officers, government agents and other law enforcement agents who oppose the current War on Drugs. LEAP was founded on March 16, 2002...
- Prohibition (drugs)Prohibition (drugs)The prohibition of drugs through sumptuary legislation or religious law is a common means of attempting to prevent drug use. Prohibition of drugs has existed at various levels of government or other authority from the Middle Ages to the present....