Should We Take A Look At Portugal's Drug Policy?

Since the 1980's we've heard about the war on drugs.  Nancy Regan told us to "Say no to drugs."  Since then, we've had drug czars to stop our rising drug use and incarcerated drug sellers and users at an astronomical rate.  Over half the people in prison are there on drug convictions.  Clearly, what we're doing isn't working.

Let's take a look at what Portugal did in 2001 and its results.  Portugal decriminalized (not legalized) every imaginable drug, from marijuana to cocaine to heroin.  Some thought this would make Portugal a haven for tourists because of the decriminalization of drugs.  Others predicted a huge spike in drug use, especially among the youth.  It turns out they were wrong on both counts.  Portugal changed from labeling drug users as criminals to labeling them as people affected by a disease.

Portugal's move to decriminalize drugs does not mean people can carry around, use and sell drugs free from police interference.  It means that drug possession, distribution and use is still illegal.  (Distribution and trafficking are  criminal offenses).  Possession and use is moved out of the criminal courts and into a special court where each offender's unique situation is judged by legal experts, psychologists and social workers.  Treatment is determined in these courts, where addicts and drug use is treated as a public health service rather than a criminal act.

The effect has been drastic.  There has been a 50% decrease in drug use since enactment of the new program, and Portugal now has among the lowest rate of drug use of EU members.  Additionally, there are a lot less sick people.  Drug related diseases including STD's and overdoses have been reduced even more than usage rates.  Experts believe this is the result of the government offering treatment with no threat of legal ramifications to addicts.  Money is spent on treatment, not on criminal prosecution.  It seems that Portugal is one place we should look to when determining what to do about our national crisis, drugs.