One of the most important things you can do is write to your MP.

MPs need to know that constituents feel strongly on this issue and that their involvement will have public support.

1. This page has a template letter which you can copy and paste into an email.

2. You can find your MP’s email address here. Please cc info@anyoneschild.org so that we know which MPs have been contacted. And, remember to add a subject title.

3. Add your own thoughts on why the UK’s current approach to drugs isn’t working, we’ve provided a prompt for you in the template. A more personalised email has a much better chance of getting a response.

4. Include your name and home address in the email. It is parliamentary protocol that MPs respond to their constituents.

Alternatively, you can write to your MP via post by simply sending a letter to the following address:

<Your MP>

House of Commons

London SW1A 0AA

From

<Your name and address here>

<Date>

Dear <your MP’s name>

Please meet me to discuss the impact our current drug laws are having on people in our community.

My name is <your name> and I am one of your constituents. I am writing to you because I am concerned about the negative impacts of the UK’s prohibition-based approach to drugs and I would like to meet you to discuss this further.

Effective drug policy should improve public health, reduce crime, promote international development and most importantly, protect young and vulnerable people. Overwhelming evidence shows that current policy fails to achieve this.

I am particularly concerned that people in our constituency are having their lives negatively impacted by current policy.

<Personally, I don’t think that the UK’s current approach to drugs is working because…>

The harrowing stories of the families who campaign with ‘Anyone’s Child: Families for Safer Drug Control’ show that the lives of young people and the communities we live in throughout the UK are being damaged by our current criminal justice-led approach to drugs.

Reading their stories has convinced me things must change. I urge you to read them too: www.anyoneschild.org/stories

These brave families are uniting to push for drug policy reform to prevent others from suffering as they have. Through regulation we can take the drug trade out of criminal hands and put doctors, pharmacists and licensed retailers in control.

In the UK drug-related deaths are at record levels, our prisons are in crisis and drugs are getting stronger. Almost one in three drug overdose deaths in Europe are recorded in the UK, which surely we can all agree is unacceptable. We have ample evidence from other countries where regulation is delivering much better outcomes.

I am urging you, as my Member of Parliament, to meet with me to discuss what can be done about this pressing issue, so that we can find a better way to keep our communities safe.

Yours sincerely,

<Your name>

<Your email address>