The Transform Drug Policy Foundation (TDPF)

The Transform Drug Policy Foundation (TDPF) is a registered non-profit charity based in the UK, working in the field of drug policy and law reform.  TDPF began as an independent campaign group called Transform, started in 1996 by its current Head of External Affairs, Danny Kushlik.  The organisation achieved charitable status in 2003 and was renamed the Transform Drug Policy Foundation in 2004.  In 2007 Transform became the first non-governmental organisation actively calling for the drug law reform, including the legal regulation of drug production, supply and use and to be granted special consultative status at the United Nations.

Their 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”.

The organistion 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
• 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

Their vision is “a world in which the War on Drugs is over and effective and humane systems of drug regulation have been established.

The organisation believes that the current UK drug policies are not only failing but have themselves become the cause of many social problems.

Please visit their website, read more about them. - http://www.tdpf.org.uk/