Drug and Alcohol Policy
Why We Require That Participants Not Bring or Use Alcohol or Illegal Drugs

Legal Issues: We are outraged by the lives being decimated by the war on drugs, and the fact that this war primarily targets people of color. Roughly half the people in our jails and prisons are doing time for non-violent drug offenses, and a majority of these are people of color. At the same time, illegal drugs are, of course, illegal. So is alcohol for anyone under 21 in the United States (and our events always have participants under 21). From a legal standpoint, an organization working with young people must keep a clean reputation. As well, our events often include activists who are challenging established power structures. Use of illegal substances at a YES! Event can endanger everyone present, as well as the sponsoring organizations.

Addiction Issues: As with any gathering, there are almost always some participants with histories of substance abuse. Creating a drug and alcohol-free environment supports these people in their recovery, and is a statement of solidarity with everyone who is working with addiction issues.

Showing Respect and Supporting Safety: Virtually any group includes some members who are extremely uncomfortable around use of drugs or alcohol. Some people have felt abused (physically, sexually or otherwise) by someone who was under the influence of a substance. Creating a safe and respectful environment is greatly supported by a week of sobriety for all participants.

Emotional clarity: Drugs and alcohol can be used to deal with upsetting emotions, and to numb or distract from challenging areas. Any use of drugs or alcohol can put the user in an altered state, and may make them less available for emotional and mental engagement with full access to their normal faculties. Together, we seek to create a community that helps each participant to feel supported in relation to their areas of challenge. We invite you to consider this a week of mindfulness, of paying deep attention. This is a time not only for networking, collaboration and building bridges, but also for healing, nurturing and transformation. Creating an outstanding experience together means we need everyone as fully present as possible.

Healthy Ways of Connecting: At YES! events, we are seeking to create healthy, natural and sustainable ways of being together, bonding, building community, expanding consciousness, accessing our creativity, and opening to spiritual dimensions. We favor ways that include everyone, that respect the diversity of participants, that do not jeopardize our organizational safety or anyone's recovery, and that help us to connect on deeper levels than conventional modes of interaction enable.

We hope this explanation is clear and makes sense to you. We certainly do not condemn all use of drugs and alcohol. But at YES! events, we do require that for this period of time participants honor this agreement. Don't bring alcohol or illegal drugs, don't use them, and if anyone is having a hard time with this agreement, support them in keeping it.

If anyone, for any reason, cannot fully and freely commit to honoring this agreement, or has questions about it, please tell us right away so we can discuss how to proceed. Your presence at this event will be a statement that you are on board with us and have committed to honor this agreement.