When we think about how policies impact our lives, it’s easy to focus on the headlines — but behind every law or system are real people, real families, and real communities. This report, Building Black Feminist Visions to End the Drug War, invites us to look closely at how the “war on drugs” has shaped the lives of Black women, girls, and trans and gender nonconforming people over the past fifty years — and what it will take to build something better together.
Created by Interrupting Criminalization, the Drug Policy Alliance, and the In Our Names Network, with lead author Andrea J. Ritchie, this framework grew out of a two-day international convening of Black feminist leaders from six countries. The gathering honored Breonna Taylor’s legacy and brought together organizers who are fighting for bodily autonomy, safety, and collective care — across movements, borders, and generations.
This report is ideal for:
- Advocates and organizers working in drug policy, reproductive justice, and gender equity
- Researchers and educators exploring carceral systems and Black feminist theory
- Funders and community leaders committed to policies that center care instead of punishment
Inside, you’ll find key insights on:
- How drug war policies have criminalized and endangered women and trans people worldwide
- Why a Black feminist lens is essential for creating just and effective drug policies
- What abolition, harm reduction, and collective care can look like in practice
Together, we can keep building a future where care is never carceral — where healing, dignity, and self-determination guide every policy and practice that touches our lives.
