Reimagining drug policy with compassion and justice

Open Society believes that drug policy should be rooted in principles of public health, human rights, and upholding human dignity. This belief guides the work I lead as director of advancing global drug policy reform, where we strive to promote humane, evidence-based approaches to drugs and drug use worldwide.

I’ve spent much of my professional life advocating for drug policy reform. For over 30 years, I’ve worked with community organizers, health workers, researchers, national and international policymakers, and—most importantly—people who use drugs. Their stories and insights continue to shape what I believe is possible, a world where people who use drugs are supported rather than criminalized and drug policy is designed with the recognition of complex economic inequalities, social vulnerabilities, and systemic racism.