How decriminalization of all drugs saved lives
how decriminalization of all drugs saved lives
In November 2001 something extraordinary happened in Portugal, faced with a rising in deaths by overdoses of drugs such as heroin the country was in deep trouble and unless something was done the problem would only get worse.
Unlike what most expected (more criminalization and heavier fines) a new legislation came in that became a truly game changer: the decriminalization of ALL drugs.
As a consequence new rules were put in place and the legislation defined a difference between consumer and trafficker in the amount that the police would find in an individual, if you are caught with more than 7 grams of weed then you will face charges and go to court, if it's less than the consumer will have to go to a commission for the dissuasion of toxicdependeci and be treated as a potential addict!
These commissions have the main role of assessing one's problems with drugs and give him help in getting clean if necessary, helping those in need and changing the paradigm of a drug consumption from a criminal felony to a public health problem.
What were the results?
The results could not have been more positives, there was a huge decrease of fatal overdoses in the country and today Portugal has one of the lowest drug related deaths in the world!
These political model does not fight the consumers (it helps them!) and allows the police to focus on catching the sellers and producers, also reducing the number of processes in tribunals related to drugs.
From what I read a lot of countries are facing problems with drugs, do you think this kind of legislation would help in your country? comment bellow!
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Peace ;)
Very good post, I fully agree, hope they does it in norway too. They did it with prostitution in Norway to make sure only the trafficker are punished, and not the victim. Selling sex is legal, buying is not.
Hi @carlosdaniel! @melinda010100 is sending you 0.1 SBD tip and @tipU upvote
!
@tipU - send tips by writing tip! in the comment, get share of the service profit :)Terence Mckenna would applaud.
had no idea who terence was and went to youtube see some vídeos of him, he as a very bright mind, peace ;)
Perhaps among the greatest genii the human race has ever produced I would suggest.
I'm a recovered heroin addict. Almost everyone in the recovery community, (doctors, therapists, addicts, sponsors etc) agree. We're in an opiate epidemic. As a society we can't keep treating addicts like this. Upvoted and followed.
great post bro! resteemed :D
I resteemed too! I'm new and only have two posts so far but I am writing about my struggle with opiate addiction and I hope to bring people together to shine what light I can on the subject.
@carlosdaniel, I didn't think drugs had such a strong effect in Estonia.
Great post though, with some real insights.
upvoted and resteemed))
god post Carlos!
obrigado!
resteemed ..
and followed!
abracos
Really pertinent article, extremely relevant and well put together, thank you so much for sharing this:-)
I really wish America would do this.
very good post, I dont even want to think where my country stands on that graph, I agree Portugal's policies seem to be doing the job, but as long as governments can make money on the "War on Drugs", whilst in some cases supplying the demand......there will always be a problem..