Portugal decriminalised all drugs - now hardly anyone dies from overdoses

[keyscore44]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/portugal-decriminalised-drugs-14-years-ago--and-now-hardly-anyone-dies-from-overdosing-10301780.html



Portugal decriminalised the use of all drugs in 2001. Weed, cocaine, heroin, you name it — Portugal decided to treat possession and use of small quantities of these drugs as a public health issue, not a criminal one. The drugs were still illegal, of course. But now getting caught with them meant a small fine and maybe a referral to a treatment program — not jail time and a criminal record.

Among Portuguese adults, there are 3 drug overdose deaths for every 1,000,000 citizens. Comparable numbers in other countries range from 10.2 per million in the Netherlands to 44.6 per million in the UK, all the way up to 126.8 per million in Estonia. The EU average is 17.3 per million.

Perhaps more significantly, the report notes that the use of "legal highs" – like so-called "synthetic" marijuana, "bath salts" and the like – is lower in Portugal than in any of the other countries for which reliable data exists. This makes a lot of intuitive sense: why bother with fake weed or dangerous designer drugs when you can get the real stuff? This is arguably a positive development for public health in the sense that many of the designer drugs that people develop to skirt existing drug laws have terrible and often deadly side effects.

Drug use and drug deaths are complicated phenomena. They have many underlying causes. Portugal's low death rate can't be attributable solely to decriminalisation. As Dr. Joao Goulao, the architect of the country's decriminalization policy, has said, "it's very difficult to identify a causal link between decriminalisation by itself and the positive tendencies we have seen."

Still, it's very clear that decriminalisation hasn't had the severe consequences that its opponents predicted. As the Transform Drug Policy Institute says in its analysis of Portugal's drug laws, "The reality is that Portugal’s drug situation has improved significantly in several key areas. Most notably, HIV infections and drug-related deaths have decreased, while the dramatic rise in use feared by some has failed to materialise."

Thought this was very interesting, I heard about this a few years back but didn't think anything of it. Maybe the next step will be legalization?

[Will.i.am Shakespeare]

Portugal decriminalised the use of all drugs in 2001. Weed, cocaine, heroin, you name it — Portugal decided to treat possession and use of small quantities of these drugs as a public health issue, not a criminal one. The drugs were still illegal, of course. But now getting caught with them meant a small fine and maybe a referral to a treatment program — not jail time and a criminal record.

This is exactly what the rest of the world needs to realize. Use the money you would spend locking up people from drug possession on rehabilitation and education. I think they should go one step further and regulate drugs all together.

[Okurkabinladin]

You mean Shakespeare, that States and corporations should be officially largest drug dealers, huh? Frankly, I dont care either way. I have little patience for people, who need to have poisoned brain in order to function like human beings. People, who are disciplined and clean, wont be hit either way.

[pattu1]

You mean Shakespeare, that States and corporations should be officially largest drug dealers, huh? Frankly, I dont care either way. I have little patience for people, who need to have poisoned brain in order to function like human beings. People, who are disciplined and clean, wont be hit either way.

The drug problem is a social problem and affects a nation's well being and finances. So, even if you are disciplined and clean, it does affect you in an indirect way. 

[UliJonHoth]

I remember when California was first looking at decriminalization of marijuana/medical marijuna, the most vocal opponents were the gang members who profit from illegal drug sales. Mexico and the border regions have turned into a bloodbath where beheadings are commonplace and an everyday occurrence, the use of drugs will never stop so it is time other methods such as those Portugal has implemented seriously need to be looked at.

[Spendulus]

I remember when California was first looking at decriminalization of marijuana/medical marijuna, the most vocal opponents were the gang members who profit from illegal drug sales. Mexico and the border regions have turned into a bloodbath where beheadings are commonplace and an everyday occurrence, the use of drugs will never stop so it is time other methods such as those Portugal has implemented seriously need to be looked at.

It's High Time for that!

[bryant.coleman]

I remember when California was first looking at decriminalization of marijuana/medical marijuna, the most vocal opponents were the gang members who profit from illegal drug sales.

That is quite understandable. There are mainly three groups of people, who benefit from the government's war on drugs. They are:

1. drug cartels
2. big bankers, who launder money for the drug cartels
3. players in the prison industry, which thrives in the United States as a result of all the millions sent to prison for drug offences.