Dear Supporter of A New PATH, 

 

April 2026 marks the 27th anniversary of A New PATH (Parents for Addiction Treatment & Healing). Since PATH began, we have been part of a movement toward therapeutic and restorative, rather than punitive drug policies. We are proud of our journey, our significant accomplishments and our amazing growth.

 

Addictive illness is a public health problem that affects millions of Americans regardless of age, cultural background, race or profession. Sadly, stigma remains a major stumbling block in accessing quality treatment and recovery services. Despite our successes with drug policy reform and the implementation of strategies that reduce the harm associated with substance use, we remain at a critical point in our nation’s history, and have increased efforts to preserve the progress we have made for over 2 1/2 decades. During challenging times, we are actively defending human rights and saving lives.  

 

In 2009 A New PATH launched the national “Moms United to End the War on Drugs” collaborative campaign to demand a shift from punitive and wasteful drug policies to health-centered approaches. That campaign currently has 35 states represented and partnerships with 6 countries. We created a “Moms Bill of Rights” and op-ed campaigns, rallies, vigils and seminars, as well as several unique annual or ongoing campaigns including “Empty Chair at the Holiday Table” and #TrueLoveNotToughLove, a campaign to promote compassionate and tolerant policies. In 2016 we worked with partners across the Globe to hold a “Families Against the Global War on Drugs” rally in front of the United Nations prior to the UN General Assembly. In 2018 we traveled to Portugal to study their successful drug decriminalization policy, and in 2022 several representatives of A New PATH and Moms United participated in the national harm reduction conference in Puerto Rico. In November 2025 we held a large national gathering of Moms United advocates in Detroit at the Drug Policy Reform conference with a new “Heart Not Harm” art installation and are in planning stages for another gathering in 2027.  

 

Since we started our overdose prevention trainings and Narcan distribution (a safe drug that can quickly reverse an opioid overdose) in 2014, we have trained over 40,000 people to recognize and reverse an opioid overdose and have 3320 overdose reversals reported saved through our program in San Diego County. Our outreach has expanded greatly in the past year to target at-risk unsheltered communities, youth and LGBTQ+. Our campaigns, projects, membership and staff continue to grow, and we moved into a larger office in North Park in 2023. We have a drop-in center at the LifeHouse in Point Loma for recovery support and overdose prevention and a Harm Reduction with Heart & Art (HeArt) program at the Brown Building in City Heights. We have seen some real progress in drug policy reform and reduction in overdose deaths, but we need your continued support to be able to protect, defend and build on these successes, and to continue to preserve liberties and save lives.  

 

Your financial support is particularly vital today. As you may be aware from recent news reports, A New PATH was significantly affected by the embezzlement of funds committed by the COO of the Harm Reduction Coalition, San Diego (HRCSD), the San Diego County grant recipient organizational contractor, under which A New PATH subcontracted, for overdose prevention training and distribution of naloxone. Due to the crime, A New PATH wasn’t paid over $100,000 of contracted payments by HRCSD, despite having fulfilled our operational sub-contractual obligations. As we have yet to receive those payments, our budget has been challenged by this loss, although we continue to provide lifesaving services. 



In honor of A New PATH’s 27th anniversary, please donate $2700, $270, $27 or any amount to help us to sustain our lifesaving education and advocacy work. Thank you again for your partnership and support!