Anti-Racist Approaches to Drug Decriminalization: Thinking Beyond Public Health (Virtual)
Total Credits: 1.5 including 1.5 Category II CEs
- Categories:
- Special Offers | 200 Adults, Couples & Families | 400 Substance Use Disorders | 600 Leadership and Management | 700 Professional Growth & Development
- Instructor:
- Lawrence Grandpre
- Course Levels:
- Advanced
- Duration:
- 1 Hour 30 Minutes
- Target Audience:
- Students, Social Workers, Community Members
Description
Drug decriminalization has often been grounded in public health frameworks. While these have gone a long way toward developing policies that seek to mitigate harms of carceral drug policies, they have also pathologized Black communities and focused interventions on the individual. Anti-Black policies and programming have created their own harms; they result in surveillance, extraction, and channeling funds to institutions and professionals who are largely from outside of the communities that have been harmed by drug policy. Recent scholarship using African-centered lenses documents alternative approaches to drug decriminalization. These include use of reparations to support community-led efforts to address the economic and social harms that build on existing knowledge, networks, and strengths that exist in communities that have been the target of failed drug policies for decades.
This University of Maryland School of Social Work Daniel Thursz Social Justice Event will be offered as a panel discussion with interactive dialogue.
Co-sponsors:
Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle; Community Justice and Equity (CJaE) Initiative
Instructor
Lawrence Grandpre Related Seminars and Products
Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH
(410) 216-3325
Lawrence Grandpre is Director of Research for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. His focuses include drug policy, criminal justice, police accountability, and community-based economic/educational development. He is the co-author of “The Black Book” and his work has been featured in The Guardian, The Baltimore Sun, Time Magazine and Black Agenda Report. He is also the co-host of the In Search of Black Power Podcast.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
1. Attendees will understand the general contours and limitations of public health approaches to drug decriminalization.
2. Attendees will learn about reparations to communities harmed by the War on Drugs and other anti-Black drug policies and programs
3. Attendees will consider how to apply an African-centered lens to drug policy and to decriminalization efforts.
4. Attendees will identify actions to support and promote advocacy to advance
Bibliography & References
BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES
A Pan African Approach to Addiction and Harm Reduction - In Search of Black Power. Black Power Media. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXiktLvBudg&list=PL7_X-VeroWRumEXX_qn9dAXhKwYemz21C&index=36
Grandpre, L., Flath, N., & Park, J. (2023). The Communal Impacts of Drug Decriminalization in Maryland. University of Marland School of Social Work and Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. https://lbsbaltimore.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Communal-Impacts-of-Drug-Criminalization-in-Maryland.pdf
Woods, I. P. (1998). Bringing Harm Reduction to the Black Community: There’s a Fire in My House and You’re Telling Me to Rearrange My Furniture. In: Marlatt GA, editor. Harm reduction: pragmatic strategies for managing high-risk behaviors. New York: Guilford
https://projectsafephilly.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/imani-woods.pdf
Live Interactive Webinar Platforms
LIVE INTERACTIVE WEBINAR PLATFORMS
The Office of Continuing Professional Education hosts Live Interactive Webinars through two platforms: Zoom and WebEx.
Both platforms offer high quality and user-friendly webinar platforms for our registrants.
System Requirements:
- Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher; MacOS 9 or higher; Android 4.0 or higher.
- Internet Browser: Google Chrome; Firefox 10.0 or higher.
Our system is not compatible with the Safari web browser.
- Broadband Internet Connection: Cable, High-speed DSL and any other medium that is internet accessible.
**Please have your device charging at all times to ensure that your device does not lose power during the webinar.
Course Interaction Requirements:
To participate in Live Interactive Webinars, you MUST have a device that allows you to view the presentation on screen and hear the instructor at all times. We do not allow participants to call-in from their phones or mobile devices and solely listen to the presentation. Participation in Live Interactive Webinars is mandatory.

Late Fees and Refunds
Fee & Registration:
Cost is $25 and includes CE credit.
refunds and transfers are not granted for this event.
Webinar Policies & FAQs
1. Are the webinars live?
Majority of our webinars are live and interactive. If they are pre-recorded, we will provide that information before registration.
You should treat the live and interactive webinars as if you are attending an in-person course in a classroom setting, which means Live Interactive Webinars require proper classroom etiquette. The instructor will always require your participation and attention.
2. Who are you authorized by?
While most licensing boards (Social Work, Professional Counselors and Psychologists) accept CE credits provided by Accredited Schools/Colleges of Social Work, licensees are responsible for determining whether specific courses meet their jurisdiction’s requirements.State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit.
The Office of Continuing Professional Education is also approved by the following organizations:
- The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Program, Provider number 1611, which is accepted by most States and Provinces. Click here to see the map*
- The Maryland Board of Social Worker Examiners (BSWE).
- Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.
- DC Department of Health: Professional Counseling and Social Work.
- Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists (and many others)
**Not every course is approved by each organization. It is the responsibility of the participant to check the approval statement on the website to determine which CE approvals are being offered for each course.
3. Which CE category can webinars satisfy?
Live Interactive Webinars are Category I CEs in Maryland. Live Interactive Webinars are equivalent to face-to-face workshops and meet Maryland BSWEs standards. For other States, please check your regulatory Board to determine how many online courses you can attend per licensing period.
4. What are the platforms we use to host our webinars?
Please visit our link to our webinar platforms for more information.
5. How do I receive my CEs at the end of the webinar?
CE certificates will be made available to all participants who attend the webinar in full, and completes the evaluation found in their registration profile.
Failure to perform each step may result in a participant’s inability to receive CE credit.
**If you are outside of the DMV area, and you need an ASWB certificate, please notify our department via email at cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu so we can issue you the ASWB CE.
**IMPORTANT: ASWB credit does not apply to all workshops; please check the CE statement on the workshop.
6. What if I am running late to join the webinar or have to leave the webinar early?
According to ACE standards, full attendance is required to receive CE certificate. Therefore, if you arrive to the webinar late or leave the webinar early, you will not receive a CE certificate, partial credit is not offered for any of The Office of Continuing Professional Education workshops or webinars.
We suggest that if you have never attended a webinar with us, you should attempt to log in at least 15 minutes before the webinar begins.
7. What if I am having technical difficulties during the webinar?
If you are have technical difficulties during the webinar, please do not notify the Instructor of these issues. Instead, please notify The Office of Continuing Professional Education department as soon as possible. There are three options you can choose from:
- Email the Webinar Assistant at cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu
- Call the Webinar Assistant at 410-706-1839
- Private message the Webinar Assistant during the webinar
8. What specific equipment do I need to attend the webinar?
The specific equipment that is essential to participating in a webinar is the following: working computer, tablet, or smart phone and speakers on your computer. Headphones would provide you with the best quality audio experience to listen to the instructor’s lectures. In addition, make sure that your device does not lose battery midway through the webinar, have your device plugged in and charging at all times. If this situation does happen where your device dies, you may rejoin the webinar and make sure to notify the Webinar Assistant of the situation.
9. How do I register for webinars?
You can register for any webinar through our website, which is located on the University of Maryland School of Social Work, Continuing Professional Education website homepage at www.ssw.umaryland.edu/cpe
10. What if I get kicked out of a webinar and cannot get back in?
While this should not happen, you can enter back into the webinar through your account profile by clicking “Launch Webinar”. You are given a few minutes to sign back in. Failure to return in time, will result in not receiving CE credits.
11. What do I do if I have a complaint/grievance?
The Office of Continuing Professional Education works hard to offer appealing and innovative workshops. We also take all complaints seriously. If you have a complaint, please contact our office IMMEDIATELY.
Refunds or Credit Letters will not be issued for fully attended workshops. Please see our Grievance Policy HERE.
12. Do we offer ADA Accommodations?
We do! If you are requesting ADA accommodations, please contact us via email at least two weeks prior to the course date. Requests after that date may not be fulfilled.
Instructors reserve the right to dismiss participants who are not adhering to the Code of Conduct.
For questions, concerns, or to request special accommodations, please call: 410-706-1839.
For financial questions or concerns, please call: 410-706-5040.
