The Approach

"The war on drugs has operated more effectively as a system of racial control than as a mechanism for combating the use and trafficking of narcotics. … [It] has disproportionately targeted people of African descent and disregarded the massive costs to the dignity, humanity and freedom of individuals."

-UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent

Organizational Ingredients for Creating a Trauma-Informed Approach

First Seven Ingredients

Leadership Commitment: Leadership must be dedicated to understanding and implementing trauma-informed principles throughout the organization.
Staff Training: Provide comprehensive training for all staff on trauma awareness, recognition, and response.
Safety: Foster an environment that prioritizes physical and emotional safety for both clients and staff.
Trustworthiness: Build trust through transparency, consistency, and clear communication.
Empowerment: Encourage client and staff empowerment by involving them in decision-making and goal-setting.
Cultural Sensitivity: Recognize and respect cultural differences and their impact on trauma experiences.
Collaboration: Foster collaboration among departments and agencies to provide holistic support.

Last Eight Ingredients

Screening and Assessment: Implement trauma screening and assessment tools to identify individuals in need.
Trauma-Informed Policies: Develop policies that reflect trauma-informed principles, including confidentiality and informed consent.
Self-Care: Promote self-care and resilience among staff to prevent burnout and vicarious trauma.
Continuous Improvement: Regularly evaluate and adapt trauma-informed practices based on feedback and emerging research.
Community Engagement: Engage with the community to create a network of support and resources.
Data Collection: Collect and analyze data to measure the effectiveness of trauma-informed approaches.
Flexibility: Recognize that trauma responses vary, and tailor interventions accordingly.
Client-Centered Care: Prioritize the needs and preferences of clients in all interactions and interventions.

How We Got Here

The impact from the War is still being felt, from those currently incarcerated to those looking for work, home and other pathways to economic stability. Take a walk through history, starting with cannabis as a medicine, then as an "evil" and "addictive" drug and then finally, back to it's original purpose, as medicine. All while targeting very specific Americans.

What It Means

"Drugs may have won the war, but we lost"

Coming To Terms

We have clear data coming from cities all over the nation in the form of Social Equity Assessments. Data which confirms the recording of former Nixon aide, John Ehrlichman, speaking on the War's purpose. The War on Drugs(WoD) was waged to cause harm to specific targets, "Blacks" and "anti-war left".

Understanding The Lens

We are survivors of a domestic War, waged against US citizens. War declared by a US president.

"What benefits are survivors entitled to?"

How does history tie into social equity?

In order to identify the extent of repair needed, we must first understand the extent of the damage/harm inflicted. Put simply, we are demanding that what was broken by San Diego during the WoD, be fixed by San Diego, through cannabis social equity programming.

Further Together

We are onl;y as strong as our community. Join the Council of Equity Advocacy San Diego every 2nd Wednesday of the month to strategize, plan, implement and support pathways of healing from the War on Us(WoD).