Mission
We are a network of youth and students who are concerned about the negative impact our drug policies have on individuals and communities. We aim to meaningfully centre diverse youth perspectives in all of our work, especially the voices of young people who use drugs.
We consider drug use a health and human rights issue rather than a criminal-legal issue. We advocate for evidence-based responses to reduce and prevent harms associated with drug use and drug criminalization.
As an organization, we strive to engage in political advocacy, promote harm reduction, and fight for drug policy reform at local, national, and international levels.
Our national board works to support chapters across Canada, connect folks, fundraise, and advocate for sensible drug policy.
Vision
At CSSDP, we are working to build a better world, governed by sensible drug policies. We aim to:
- Amplify youth voices in discussions of drug policy and harm reduction.
- Push for innovative responses to punitive drug policies and the toxic drug crisis.
- Build a community of young advocates for evidence-based drug policy reform.
Values
At our 2025 AGM, we asked our team what words they associate with CSSDP. These are values we hold in high esteem, identified by members of our chapters and national board.
We are and will continue to be:
- • Youth-led and youth-focused
- • Harm reduction advocates
- • Evidence-based educators
- • Community builders and organizers
- • Drug policy reformers
- • Inclusive and destigmatizing
- • Focused on empowering youth
- • Passionate, ambitious, and innovative
- • Trauma-informed
- • Standing in solidarity with allied movements
- • Amplifying lived experiences
- • Pushing for change from the local to international scale
To learn more about what we stand for, take a look at our policy stances.
We’d love to have you!
Join our national board members, attend events, find a CSSDP Chapter near you, or start a chapter of your own.
Get Involved