TAP030 SSDP Peer Education with Frances Fu

Frances first got involved with SSDP in 2011, when she co-founded the Northwestern University chapter as a freshman. Although she had known that the War on Drugs was irrational and ineffective before attending college, it wasn’t until she attended her first Midwest Regional Conference at Roosevelt University that she learned that drug policies were also unjust and inhumane. Since then, harm reduction has been a guiding principle behind all of her professional and personal pursuits, and she strives to educate people about the intersectionalities associated with the War on Drugs.In the drug policy world, Frances has served on SSDP’s Board of Directors, and has worked with cannabis law and industry organizations to research cannabis policy in various states, and write and review applications for cannabis cultivation centers and dispensary licenses. On campus, she was involved with Sexual Health and Assault Peer Educators (SHAPE), Alpha Chi Omega sorority and and has served as the President of the Panhellenic Association.Goals for SSDP Peer Education Program1) To promote open and honest dialogue around drug use, drug policy and drug culture2) To reduce drug-related harms through a lens of love, rather than stigma or punishment3) Convey factual information about drugs, including how to access further resources4) Convey factual information about drug policy, including how to access further resourcesSSDP Peer Educators achieve this goal through three primary activities1) Facilitating small-group educational programs in residence halls, in fraternities and sororities, for other student groups and high schools, and during Orientation Week2) Providing students with informal counseling and professional referrals3) Planning campus-wide events in collaboration with other student groups, academic departments or community organizations4) Soliciting feedback and communicating to National staff to ensure that the program continually meets students’ needs.Referenceshttps://www.youtube.com/user/thedrugpolicydealer/videoshttp://thedrugclassroom.comhttp://ssdp.org/justsayknowBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-needle-and-the-narrative--1518412/support.