About Us
Release is the UK’s centre of expertise on drugs and drug laws. We provide legal support, representation and drugs advice to people with a history of drug use or who are impacted by drug laws. We also campaign for evidence-based drug policies founded on principles of public health and human rights, seeking to reduce the harms faced by people who use drugs.
Community Legal services
Our legal team provides support and representation on issues like homelessness, housing insecurity, social security, and debt to over 1,300 people a year. Our services are located in drug treatment centres, homelessness projects and sexual health clinics, supporting vulnerable and marginalised people across the UK.
Drug Advocacy service
We provide advocacy advice to people accessing drug treatment services, ensuring their voice and needs are centred in their care.
The National Helpline
We respond to over 2,000 queries annually from people seeking advice, including the criminal law, police complaints, family law, employment issues and harm reduction/ treatment advice.
Harm Reduction Hub
Based in our office, the Harm Reduction Hub is a community drop-in centre for anyone to get harm reduction advice and signposting to relevant services across housing, safer sex, and other issues.
Policy and Research
Release undertakes research analysing the impact of laws and policies on people who use drugs both within the criminal justice and health spheres. We publish multiple papers highlighting racial disparities in the policing and prosecution of drug offences in the UK, as well as demonstrating the global experience of drug decriminalisation.
Our clients’ experiences drive our policy work: we respond to Government proposals and consultations that impact the lives of the people we work with. This includes responding to housing policies, social welfare policies and other relevant areas.
Release is an NGO with Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations; we’re also part of the Vienna NGO Committee on Narcotic Drugs (VNGOC) and the New York NGO Committee on Drugs (NYNGOC).
59
YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE
100+
trained harm reduction
Volunteers
19
Legal outreach sites around the uk
1640
people supported over our helpline in 2026
About Us
Step forward to
serve humanity,
reachout & help
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Bringing about a healthier and more equitable future
We work towards a world where all people, including people who use drugs
and those most harmed by criminalisation have equal access to justice and resources
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1
Spread the word
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Donations
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Volunteering
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