r/Drugs and all other drug related communities join World Drugs Day with a message to reddit centered on justice: Support. Don’t Punish

Wednesday, 26 June 2022 (on reddit) – Today, /r/drugs, /r/researchchemicals, /r/LSD, /r/stims, /r/reagenttesting, a reddit coalition of 200 subreddits go private and ask all regular visitors of these subreddits to share how they feel about the communities they visit, have they helped them in any way, did you get the information as a teen that you needed to not die, was there support when you needed it, did the recovery subreddits help you /u/spez when you needed support, or do you support others? We want to send u reddit and /u/spez a message that all these vulnerable communities are important and save lives every day 24/7.

The date of the launch is not coincidental. 26th June marks the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking – a day many governments around the world commemorate by celebrating their records on drug arrests, seizures, and even to execute people condemned for drug-related offences.

The drug related subreddits community

• Do NOT promote drug use
• Accept, for better and or worse, that licit & illicit drug use is part of our world and chooses to work to minimize its harmful effects rather than simply ignore or condemn them;
• Utilizes evidence-based, feasible, and cost-effective practices to prevent and reduce harm;
• Calls for the non-judgmental, non-coercive provision of services and resources to people who use drugs

Making a subreddit NSFW out of nowhere without even getting in touch with the moderators beforehand is not how community management works. We’re dealing with stigma, fear, violence, death and shame every single day. If reddit really want to follow their mission. Furthermore, scientific research proves that Teens prefer harm reduction messaging on substance use. Using the argument that the subreddit is only for adults is actually harming teens because especially they need and want easy access to harm reduction information.

Our mission is to bring community and belonging to everyone in the world. As we move towards this goal with different initiatives from different parts of the org, it's important to remember that we're in this together with one shared goal above all others.

Reddit should put its money where its mouth is and support vulnerable communities that add value to the world by supporting those that need it the most right now.

Currently the drug market is unregulated, drug checking options are limited, the DEA spreads misinformation (I fact checked their 'fact sheets'; rate most F based on the 5000 research papers about drugs and harm reduction I’ve read and can share), there's a giant stigma towards People Who Use Drugs (PWUD). In the US alone 120,000 people died from drug poisoning. These are all preventable deaths.

The problem is a lot of people under 18 come into possession of drugs but thankfully come to Reddit for pointers and tips where people have legit saved lives by informing people on their dosages or urging medical care to an obvious overdose to a teen who is terrified. We’re going to lose that ability to intervene. And it’s damaging. It’s the same thing “Dare” does. Drugs are bad an evil. And you shouldn’t even look at them or touch them. Nothing teaches you what the fuck to do when you Do touch them. When you come into a bad crowd. When you get bored. When you got some money to blow. When your parents are out of town.

Nobody has to feel any fear or judgement when posting and seeking advice. None of us pretend to be doctors or medical experts. We just wanna help. And we only help those that reach out and ask.

Dear /u/Reddit please don't punish our fragile communities with ridiculous NSFW stigmatization and give us the support we need to stay alive and save more lives.

Please just do this one thing.

Support Don’t Punish

Want to read more fact based evidence that r/drugs saves peoples lives of all ages? Then read the manifesto