ALL DRUGS LEGAL? NO PROBLEM!

Portugal decriminalized drugs use in 2001, and now there are hardly any cases or deaths related to drug consumption. The once highly debated and controversial change in the rule book that took place 17 years ago has now proven to be, by far, the best working solution to the drugs problem.

LSD? COCAINE? HEROINE? MARIJUANA? WHATEVERDRUG? Doesn't matter. It's all good! Keep hitting it! You won't be prosecuted, chill bro...

Sounds absolutely absurd, right? At first glance, I agree, sounds absolutely delusional. But it works!

HOW?

Before we get riiiight into it (insert KEEMSTAR voice), how about we look at the statistics. There are only two things in the world that don't lie; Shakira's HIPS and NUMBERS (unfortuanely this time we are looking at numbers):

Portugal's Drug report 2018
Portugal's Drug report 2001

TLDR; the drug problem was significantly improved. Over the 17 years drug induced deaths have reduced from almost 80% to nearly 20%, continuation of drugs reduced from 45% to near 25%, even HIV has reduced from ~45% to ~5%.
AND ITS NOTHING SHORT FROM AWESOME!

THE SECRETS REVEALED

It goes without saying Portugal hasn't turned into a crackhead's safe haven, nor did it turn into a complete fallout with drugs, Portugal didn't go anarchic... just decriminalized use of drugs with moderation.
Since, Possession of drugs for personal use/ leisure was not going land the user into jail and a criminal record, but at most a small fine and possibly referred to a TREATMENT program. Portugal is first of many who looked at the drugs issue not as a criminal problem but as a health issue!

Portugal was able to remove the stigma of using drugs as a whole by decriminalizing use of drugs and allotting health programs and rehabilitation programs for addicts. This, as a result, allowed addicts to freely combat their addiction themselves. There is a level of stigma from the society and fear of the repercussions of the law that make addicts dig deeper into their habit. But with the stigma and fear removed the addicts found a way to fight out of the cycle of addiction and battle it head first.

Their are designated social workers and psychologists who precisely go around providing clean needles and paraphernalia to users to reduce spread of deadly diseases like Hep C and HIV from sharing needles and paraphernalia. Also, they use the opportunity to educate the users in a friendly manner and guide them without forcing them.

One more way Portugal battles the issue of young children getting into the addiction world, is by first raising awareness of drugs use and plus taking out the "cool" factor of doing something "illegal".

Synthetic drugs always were the most harmful and deadly, also increasing the use over time. But now, since "natural" drugs were legal, mortality rate dropped, plus addiction became easier to control.

In a nutshell, the friendly approach looked into the problem with a helping hand rather than punishing perspective, and love overcame fear.

THE ONLY ISSUE

The act of 2001 is solving the consumption problem, but not much has or could be done to the supply problem. The supply of drugs has been stable over the years. Drugs are still being fed into the country and not much has yet been accomplished to battle the supply. As long as illegal supply is continued, the dark acts of slavery, human trafficking, black money and so on funded by the illegal drugs market wouldn't be cut off; and this is the sad part that's being overlooked.

In the U.S., today, a lot of discussion and actions are being taken about legalizing marijuana, maybe looking at Portugal some valuable lessons could be learnt.

That's one more blind spot from Blind's pot.

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