Critics of decriminalizing drugs have pointed to rising overdose rates to argue that decriminalization doesnāt work. In fact, such policies
Portugalās 2001 decriminalization law that saw such success crucially did more than decriminalize drug possession. It also set up robust harm reduction as well as treatment and recovery programs. Those in active addiction could get clean paraphernalia and medical supervision as well as methadone, which eases opioid withdrawals. Those caught with drugs are sent to dissuasion commissions, which determine if the user is addicted, and if so, recommend treatment programs. If the addict voluntarily chooses to attend treatment, the commission books it for them, and they can attend for free. After residential treatment programs, recovering addicts get job support from the government, including loans to start worker cooperatives. Portugal treated addiction as a health issue rather than a criminal one, and unlike the United States, it treated health care as a right. Amid an economic crisis, budget cuts and outsourcing destroyed Portugalās world-renowned drug treatment system. In 2012, āPortugalĀ decentralizedĀ its drug oversight operationā as āa funding drop from 76 million euros ($82.7 million) to 16 million euros ($17.4 million) forced Portugalās main institution to outsource work previously done by the state to nonprofit groups.ā At the same time, the countryās Institute for Drugs and Drug Addiction wasĀ disbanded and absorbedĀ into the National Health Service, which simultaneously had its own budget cut by 10 percent. The result:Ā year-long waitsĀ for state-funded rehabilitation treatment, and a sharply decreasing number of people treated. Blaming government disinvestment, JoĆ£o GoulĆ£o ā Portugalās drug czar since 2005 and the architect of the decriminalization policy ā said, āWhat we have today no longer serves as an example to anyone.ā Speaking almost aĀ decade ago, a dissuasion commission member said, āIf the person shows up at ten oāclock in the morning, we can schedule them for one oāclock in the afternoon at the treatment facility in order for them to start the analysis.ā With wait times for treatment in Portugal going from four hours before the effects of austerity kicked in to an entire year, is it any mystery that Portugalās drug statistics have been getting worse?

























