Introduction to DUO

Founded in June 2024, DUO (Drug Users Organizing) came together as individuals with lived or living experiences of drug use. We believe in the power of community. For too long, we have faced stigma, criminalization, and isolation due to outdated, racially motivated laws and policies. By standing together, we support one another and draw strength from our shared experiences. DUO offers a safe space where we can find empowerment, mutual respect, and the solidarity needed to combat the harms inflicted on us by society.

The world is beginning to understand that many of the harms related to drug use are public health issues, not criminal ones. Yet, we are still far from being safe, respected, or autonomous. Despite progress in some public health circles, we remain in danger from punitive, racist policies born out of the War on Drugs—policies that target and harm people who use drugs instead of addressing the root causes. At DUO, we challenge these outdated laws and work toward legislation that prioritizes health, human dignity, and common sense.

We demand respect for our human rights and challenge harmful stereotypes, moralistic judgments, and false narratives that dehumanize us. Most importantly, we insist that the voices of people who use drugs be at the center of any efforts to address the harms associated with substance use. 

As people on the front lines of both the overdose crisis and the drug war, we are saving lives—our own and those of our friends, families, and communities. Our lived experiences give us expertise on drug use, culture, and behavior. We bring specialized knowledge and insight to the table, and it’s time our experience is recognized and included in shaping policies that affect us all. No group has ever gained liberation without the active involvement of those directly impacted by oppression.