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Talking Over Turkey: A Toolkit For Family Discussions About Drug Policy
Drug Policy Alliance | 11/22/2005

What would happen if there was open and honest debate about drug use and drug policy in the U.S.? If people just talked - candidly, truthfully and without fear of judgment or recrimination?

The Drug Policy Alliance wants you to help us find out. And we think the best place to start is right where you live – literally.

Change starts at home. And family holiday gatherings are the perfect place to bring up the issues you care about. But we know this can be a tough subject to tackle, so we'd like to help you out with Talking Over Turkey, a toolkit to inspire real family conversations about drug policy.

This packet gets you started with a newspaper article as a jumping off point for discussion, and provides questions and talking points that will come in handy whether you're struggling to broach the topic with Great-Aunt Mary, or looking for a meaningful dialogue with your college-age son.

Parents who want to initiate a discussion about drugs with their children can also supplement the packet with the "Dear Johnny" letter, written by Safety First director Marsha Rosenbaum to her son when he was entering high school.

So bring a copy along with the green bean casserole when you meet your family for the holidays. Then when the person next to you at the table asks what you’ve been reading lately, you can begin, “Actually, there’s this one article…”

If you manage to convert your whole family to the cause of drug policy reform (we can dream, can't we?), the packet even includes a form for them to join the Alliance.

Either way, please let us know how it goes by emailing actionfeedback@drugpolicy.org. We will post a few of the most interesting stories on the website. You can also send us an email if you are planning to talk to your family and would be interested in sharing your story with the press!

Best wishes for delicious discourse from all of us at the Alliance!

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