Drug Education Charity Founder Appointed to Advisory Council on Misuse of Drugs
London, 13 January 2025 – The DSM Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE, founder and director of a drugs education charity, to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). The ACMD is an influential, advisory non-departmental public body that provides recommendations to the government regarding the control of dangerous or harmful drugs.
The news of Spargo-Mabbs’ appointment comes after the recent announcement by the Home Office that Policing Minister Dame Angela Johnson has requested the ACMD to make recommendations on the reclassification of ketamine as a Class A drug.
In a statement, Fiona Spargo-Mabbs said, “I am deeply honored to join the ACMD, an expert group working in an area that is close to my heart. I look forward to working alongside others in providing independent advice to the government and reducing the risks and harms associated with drugs.” Spargo-Mabbs’ son, Dan, tragically passed away eleven years ago due to an accidental overdose of ecstasy. In response, she founded a drug education charity to support safer decision-making among young people and their families.
The ACMD announced the appointment of ten leading experts, including Spargo-Mabbs, on their official website. The DSM Foundation, established in 2014, aims to provide young people with evidence-based and up-to-date information about drugs to empower them to make informed choices. The charity has reached almost 750 schools, colleges, and community organizations, providing workshops for parents and caregivers and training for school and college staff. They also offer a verbatim play, “I Love You Mum, I Promise I Won’t Die,” commissioned by the charity to share Dan’s story and raise awareness about the dangers of drugs.
For more information about the DSM Foundation, please visit their website at https://www.dsmfoundation.org.uk/. Media inquiries about this press release or the work of the DSM Foundation can be directed to media@dsmfoundation.org.uk.
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