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Ten Years After Decriminalization, Drug Abuse Down By Half
| Good [+3]Toggle ReplyLink» databoy replied on Wed Feb 15, 2012 @ 5:01pm |
 Coolness: 106085 | Drug warriors often contend that drug use would skyrocket if we were to legalize or decriminalize drugs in the United States. Fortunately, we have a real-world example of the actual effects of ending the violent, expensive War on Drugs and replacing it with a system of treatment for problem users and addicts.
Ten years ago, Portugal decriminalized all drugs. One decade after this unprecedented experiment, drug abuse is down by half: Health experts in Portugal said Friday that Portugal’s decision 10 years ago to decriminalise drug use and treat addicts rather than punishing them is an experiment that has worked. “There is no doubt that the phenomenon of addiction is in decline in Portugal,” said Joao Goulao, President of the Institute of Drugs and Drugs Addiction, a press conference to mark the 10th anniversary of the law. The number of addicts considered “problematic” — those who repeatedly use “hard” drugs and intravenous users — had fallen by half since the early 1990s, when the figure was estimated at around 100,000 people, Goulao said. Other factors had also played their part however, Goulao, a medical doctor added. “This development can not only be attributed to decriminalisation but to a confluence of treatment and risk reduction policies.” Many of these innovative treatment procedures would not have emerged if addicts had continued to be arrested and locked up rather than treated by medical experts and psychologists. Currently 40,000 people in Portugal are being treated for drug abuse. This is a far cheaper, far more humane way to tackle the problem. Rather than locking up 100,000 criminals, the Portuguese are working to cure 40,000 patients and fine-tuning a whole new canon of drug treatment knowledge at the same time. None of this is possible when waging a war. [ www.forbes.com ] |
| I'm feeling deep right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Nathan replied on Wed Feb 15, 2012 @ 6:14pm |
 Coolness: 166515 | I knew it! Very interesting results ... unfortunately, somehow I doubt that North America will open its eyes to this bright idea. Even though we now have proof that prevention works better than detention, I'm sure the super stubborn Christian right/Police force in the US and Canada will never acknowledge these new findings and give in to the fact that drug use should be treated and controlled, rather than punished and demonized.
But, good for Portugal! If their results can have an influence on the rest of Europe, MAYBE it'll eventually make its way here ... |
| I'm feeling you up right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» perception replied on Sun Feb 26, 2012 @ 9:42pm |
 Coolness: 65885 | It's hard to say. On the one side Harper and team are pushing the prison expansion and adopting jail and ask questions later policy, and on the other side the liberals are pushing to decriminalize marijuana. I wouldn't put it pass Canada to eventually decriminalize drugs. |
| I'm feeling punkadelic right now.. | |
| Good [+2]Toggle ReplyLink» basdini replied on Mon Feb 27, 2012 @ 4:14am |
 Coolness: 145170 | the drug war is lost, legalize and tax it all!
i've said it before, we call them 'controlled substances' but that's a sick joke because we have no control over them so long as they remain illegal and on the black market. |
| I'm feeling surly right now.. | |
| Good [+2]Toggle ReplyLink» HighdroXy replied on Wed Mar 28, 2012 @ 11:05pm |
 Coolness: 52505 | Imho , the war on drugs is a war against human rights. |
| I'm feeling 2012 right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» DynV replied on Mon Apr 9, 2012 @ 2:30pm |
 Coolness: 108775 | the following mention Portugal drug policy: Has Obama Challenged the "War On Drugs" Asumptions? [ therealnews.com ]
a 4-part debate on "What would a saner drug policy look like?" between Sean Dunagan, former DEA Analyst and Kevin Sabet, former Obama Admin. Adviser I found it very interesting. especially that the former DEA Analyst tried showing the impact of criminal cases in a country like US for minor drug possession but the former Obama Admin. Adviser wouldn't hear him ; notice how charming is the later, something required when you can't reason someone (to charm them). |
| I'm feeling <3 sexi_babe_69 right now.. | |
Ten Years After Decriminalization, Drug Abuse Down By Half
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