By Katie Gibbs

On the 23rd June in 34-degree heat, a committed group of activists, charity workers, and bereaved families attended the 11th annual lobby of Parliament to demand drug policy reform that is rooted in evidence and fairness. 

11 years ago, Anyone’s Child handed a letter to the then-Prime Minister, David Cameron, promising to return every year until drug policy reform is achieved. 5 (almost 6) prime ministers later, 45,000 people have died from drug-related deaths. While public attitudes towards drug policy are shifting, not nearly enough has been done to combat the current crisis 

The lobby was an incredible day for bringing together like-minded individuals who care deeply about this issue. The sense of community was undeniable, but the grief and frustration were stronger. In the morning at the Abbey Centre, I was trained about naloxone and attended a session on harm reduction around ketamine, saw stalls from charities arguing for the destigmatization of people who use drugs, and a group composed entirely of serving and former police and other law enforcement arguing for drug policy reform. 

We also heard the heartbreaking words of Cara Lavan, who changed to a career in politics after the loss of her partner. He passed away despite over a year of him trying to seek help from a system that treats drugs as an issue for crime and punishment rather than one of public health. 

In the afternoon, many headed to Parliament to green card their MP, while many headed to their pre-arranged meeting with their MP to discuss the personal stories of how the current drug policies have affected them. 

The last event of the day was a meeting in Portcullis House. This was a chance for lords and MPs to hear from a panel of members of the Anyone’s Child campaign. The sense of anger and grief was palpable. One of the biggest takeaways for me was how the Misuse of Drugs Act had equated drug use with immorality and fear. This had now been entrenched in British society. Why is it that if someone has used drugs, they are viewed as less worthy of support and protection from our government? What about those 45,000 people who have been failed by the current system, and nothing is done about it? Why is there not more outrage? All those people were loved by so many, and their lives didn’t need to be lost. Yet the issue continues to be routinely weaponised by politicians against anyone who speaks out. 

For me, the lobby was incredibly impactful, seeing all these people who, even 11 years on and in sweltering London heat, still turn up and recount some of the most painful things that anyone could experience in their lifetime. Seeing the perseverance and continued motivation for reform is infectious and highlights that the demand for change is alive and kicking. We will one day have a drug policy that treats people as people, and it will be the result of the incredible work of the people I met that day and the thousands of others who support charities such as Anyone’s Child.