Rising Drug Use Question Portugal’s Drug Decriminalization Policy

Reevaluating Portugal’s Drug Decriminalization Policy in Light of Urban Drug Use Surge

In light of Portugal’s previous success with progressive drug decriminalization policies, the country is now grappling with a resurgence of visible drug use in urban areas. This has prompted a reevaluation of their approach.

Back in 2001, Portugal decriminalized all drugs for personal use, shifting their focus from punishment to harm reduction. As a result, the country experienced a decline in HIV transmission rates, prison populations, and overdose rates. However, recent years have witnessed a concerning increase in overdose rates, drug-related litter, and crime, which law enforcement attributes to the rise in drug use. Consequently, there are growing demands for a reexamination of the policy, with some suggesting the possibility of limited re-criminalization in urban areas and in proximity to schools and hospitals.

João Goulão, the mastermind behind Portugal’s decriminalization policy, believes that the issues at hand stem from insufficient funding and the decentralization of drug oversight, rather than the policy itself.

[Source: Washington Post]

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