Our June Event with Johann Hari 

In June, Johann Hari led our annual event for Support. Don’t Punish day at the Astor Theatre.

Johann introduced an exclusive screening of The United States vs. Billie Holiday film, which is based on his bestseller, Chasing the Scream. 

A long-term supporter and patron of DPA, Johann’s book tells the story of the war on drug users, which began in the 1930s when FBI head Harry Anslinger hounded jazz singer Billie Holiday to her death over her narcotics addiction.

TED Talk - Everything you Think you Know about Addiction is Wrong

Johann's TED Talk has been viewed more than 6 million times on YouTube and more than 10 million times on the TED Talk website. It’s a must-listen for anyone interested in drug policy reform. 

He talks about "Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong" and is a must for anyone interested in drug policy and society's attitudes to drugs and addiction.

Johann Hari is the best selling author of an excellent book: "Chasing The Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs” which was on the New York Times Best Seller list for over 6 months.

Addiction is the opposite of Connection

Understanding addiction is essential to developing effective evidence-based drug policy.

Johann Hari explores the nature of addiction and how society should respond to addiction with policies that treat the root cause of addictive behaviour rather than just the symptom.  Unfortunately, existing policies that criminalise, vilify and demean those addicted to drugs reinforces and stimulate their addictions. The question Johann asks is, how should we as a society respond to addiction?

Purchase your copy of Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari