College of Human Ecology to host drug policy forum Aug. 2

Syracuse University’s College of Human Ecology, in collaboration with the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM), the Drug Policy Alliance and Families Rally for Emancipation and Empowerment (FREE), will host a community forum on a public health and safety approach for drug policy in New York state on Monday, Aug. 2. The forum will take place in Room 304 of the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center from 6 to 8 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

The forum is one of several statewide community dialogues to assist in providing a blueprint for a public health and safety approach to drug policy in New York state. The forum will explore how drug use and current responses affect communities, families and individuals, and how the policies can be improved.

Members of the community are invited and encouraged to attend to assist in defining a public health approach to drug policy, as well as identifying the key problems, issues and policy barriers facing communities and individuals affected by drug use across the state. The forum hopes to identify effective strategies for moving towards a public health approach and develop a policy agenda for aligning existing policies.

“Harmful drug use remains one of New York’s most difficult public health problems. It affects every segment of society, impacting individuals, families and communities,” says Dessa Bergen-Cico, assistant professor in the Department of Health and Wellness. “Despite recent reforms to the state’s Rockefeller Drug Laws, we need community input to help inform the next stages in policy reform. Community forums like this one will help develop a public health and safety approach to drug policy for New York.”

Those interested in attending the forum are encouraged to R.S.V.P to Bergen-Cico at (315) 443-0250 or dkbergen@syr.edu, or Tracy Pugh (NYAM) at (212) 419-3551 or tpugh@nyam.org. For more information, contact Bergen-Cico.