Summer Internship – Public Health Intern

Who We Are: 

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) addresses the harms of drug use and drug criminalization through policy solutions, organizing, and public education. We advocate for a holistic approach to drugs that prioritizes health, social supports, and community wellbeing. DPA opposes punitive approaches that destabilize people, block access to care, and drain communities of resources. We believe that the regulation of drugs should be grounded in evidence, health, equity, and human rights. In collaboration with other movements, we change laws, advance justice, and save lives.

DPA has 40 staff across the U.S. an annual operating budget of approximately $12 million, and 200,000 members, activists, and supporters. The organization has a solid track record of success at the local, state, and federal levels and consistent visibility in prominent media and policy circles.

Recognizing the broad reach of the drug war, DPA works across issue areas to engage more deeply with organizations and leaders in immigration, family policing, education, reproductive justice, housing, and other aligned spaces. This commitment to building power across movements and building a base contributes to and works in tandem with DPA’s work on policy and legislative change.

Learn more about working at the Drug Policy Alliance here and learn about our work to end the drug war here.

The Role: 

DPA’s remote summer internships are designed to provide an integrated and educational experience for those interested in learning about drug policy and regulatory and legislative practices first-hand. Our organizational ethos is to tackle racism directly and work to address the harms of the drug war that are overwhelmingly affecting low-income communities and people of color.

Supervised by DPA’s Director of Public Health, Public Health Interns support the creation of real alternatives to the war on drugs as part of a multidisciplinary staff, by aiding with legal and policy research, drafting legal and policy analyses and materials, and analyzing legislation and regulations as they relate to issues of drug policy and public health. (Law school or graduate-level public health students only).

Skills and Experience: 

Only applicants currently enrolled in law school or a graduate-level public health program will be considered. Applicants must be enthusiastic about the organization’s agenda, mission, and vision with solid written, communication, and interpersonal skills. The ideal candidates are independent, detail-oriented, and highly organized, with a proactive work style. Experience with Microsoft Office Suite is preferred. Candidates must also be open to evolving responsibilities

Hours:

Minimum of 24 to 40 hours per week depending on the role. The internship begins June 4, 2025, and ends August 8, 2025.

Compensation: 

$19.50/hour for grad students unless they receive school funding, school credit or a fellowship opportunity.  

How to Apply: 

To be considered, candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, and brief writing sample. We will only contact candidates who are under consideration. No phone calls, please. 

The deadline to apply for summer internships is April 8, 2025. Decisions are made on a rolling basis.

Equal Opportunity 

Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce

and an inclusive culture. DPA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, personal appearance, political affiliation, family responsibility, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction.  Drug Policy Alliance is particularly interested in hiring people who have been adversely affected by the war on drugs.

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