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Mission
Statement and Guiding Principles
People who use drugs
have the same rights as people who do not. We will work to ensure that
people who use drugs and those involved with them are treated in a way
that is fair, equitable and appropriate. We will seek to ensure that the
rights of people who use drugs are observed. We will challenge policy,
practice and legislation that arbitrarily reduces the rights of people
who use drugs.
The
right to housing:
- We believe that
access to stable and secure housing is beneficial to individuals and
to wider society.
- We support initiatives
that house and support people who use drugs in appropriate accommodation.
- We believe that
policies and housing practice that arbitrarily reduces access to housing
for drug users is an infringement of this right and is counterproductive.
What we will do:
· Offer policy advice to housing organisations seeking to house
people who use drugs
· Feed in to regional and national policy and strategy forums on
housing and drug use
· Make literature, resources and training available to relevant
workers and individuals in the field.
The
right to education:
- We believe that
people who use drugs are unfairly discriminated within education. Arbitrary
and inconsistent drug-related exclusionary processes exemplify this
across the country.
- Research demonstrates
that access to and involvement with education is a substantial protective
factor against problematic drug use and exclusion from education represents
a substantial risk factor.
What we will do:
· Work with schools, colleges and regional bodies to increase awareness,
skills and confidence in responding to drug use.
· Feed in to regional and national debate and strategy in working
with drugs within educational settings.
· Develop resources, advice and information for all parties affected
by discrimination against drug users within the education system.
The
right to family life:
- We believe that
drug use and family life can coexist. We also recognise that drug use
can have a serious and negative impact on family well-being.
- Research has demonstrated
the important role that family plays as a risk or protective factor
for problematic drug use.
- We will support
policy and practice that looks at drug use within the family in a holistic,
and supportive way, and seeks to support families encountering drug
use within the family.
- We will challenge
approaches that deny people the right to family life solely because
drug use takes place, without taking broader factors into consideration.
What we will do:
· We will work collaboratively with other groups addressing drug
use within the family.
· We will work to ensure that all parties concerned with drug use
within the family are able to approach such issues from an informed, proportionate
and equitable position.
· We will make available resources and training to support families
affected by drugs.
The
right to health-care and treatment:
- People who use
drugs have the same right to prompt, effective and appropriate treatment
as people who do not use drugs.
- We believe that
approaches that do not offer access to such treatment breach a fundamental
human right. Furthermore we believe that such approaches are counterproductive,
increasing the cost of drug use both to users and to the state.
What we will do:
· We will offer information to people who use drugs, their familes,
friends, advocates and peers. This information will include models of
treatment and care available, routes to access such care, rights in accessing
care and treatment.
· We will contest policy and practice that restricts or denies
access to care and treatment for drug users, where evidence that such
care is effective and appropriate.
· We will work with organisations and services to support the development
of more accessible and effective services for drug users.
Legal
rights:
- We believe that
exisiting drug legislation is fundamentally flawed and effectively causes
greater harm than that it is intended to prevent. We believe that the
legislation needs to be independently reviewed and revised accordingly.
- We believe that
people who use drugs and are in contact with the criminal justice system
are entitled to fair and equitable treatment.
- We believe that
responses to drug use within the criminal justice system should reflect
the needs of drug users, should be balanced and proportional, and should
ensure that service users have full access to independent legal advice
and information throughout their engagement.
What we will do:
· We will work with legal practitioners to increase awareness and
proficiency in addressing the legal needs of drug users.
· We will research and demonstrate the need for review and revision
of drug legislation.
The
right to freedom of movement
- We believe that
the right to freedom of movement is a fundamental human right. We believe
that on a national and international level, drugs legislation and policy
infringes this right, and needs to be revised.
What we will do:
· We will work to address areas of national policy or practice
that substantially infringe on a person's right to freedom of movement.
The
right to information
- We believe that
drug use, and drug risks are exacerbated by ignorance and inaccurate
information.
- We believe that
all people concerned about drugs are entitled to accurate, unbiased
and relevant information about drugs, drug use and drug-related risks.
- This information
needs to be made accessible to all, and needs to reflect the needs of
a heterogeneous society.
What we will do:
· We will provide information and advice about drugs and drug use.
This information will reflect the principles of honesty, accuracy and
impartiality that we believe in.
· We will make this information available to anyone concerned about
drugs, and will endeavour to make this information as accessible as feasible.
The
right to harm-reduction and safety:
- We believe that,
while much drug use is inherently risky, strategies and resources exist
to reduce these risks.
- We believe that,
where such approaches can reduce drug-related risk, they should be implemented.
We believe that an unwillingness to do so impinges on a person's right
to health.
What we will do:
· We will draw on national and international responses that reduce
drug-related harm and support their implementation in the UK.
· We will seek to address legal and moral obstacles to such strategies
where they exist.
The
right to employment
- We believe that
people have a fundamental right to work. We do not believe that drug
use per se should be an obstacle to employment.
- We believe that
people who use drugs should be entitled to fair, equitable and proportionate
treatment in the workplace.
What we will do:
· We will support employers in developing and implementing effective
workplace drugs policy through advice, information training and consultancy.
The
right to dignity
- We believe that
all people have the right to be treated with dignity.
- We believe that
people who use drugs are entitled to protection from harassment, incitement
to hatred, degrading or humiliating treatment.
What we will do:
· We will highlight and challenge policy and practice that fails
to afford dignity to people who use drugs.
The
right to participate
- We believe that
drug use affects a wide range of groups and individuals. Each of these
has the right to involvement in the development and delivery of drug
policy and practice.
- We believe that
it is vital to ensure that the needs, opinions and experiences of all
these groups are considered in developing responses to drugs and drug
use.
What we will do:
· We will ensure that our work draws on and consults with a wide
range of interest groups.
Kevin Flemen, KFx:
2003
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