Portugal decriminalizing all drugs is often cited by American proponents as a blueprint to handle addiction, but drug use & overdoses have only spiked in recent years. In 2001, Portugal decriminalized all drugs, including marijuana, cocaine & heroin.
In 2001, Portugal decriminalized all drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, preferring a"dissuasion commission" over jail time for drug users.The European country has inspired many decriminalization efforts in the United States, including so-called"harm reduction" initiatives such as"safe consumption sites,""safe smoking kits," and the distribution of overdose reversal drugs such as naloxone, or Narcan.
Up from its 2001 number of 7.8%, adults who use illicit drugs in Portugal jumped to 12.8% in 2022, while overdose rates are at their highest point in 12 years. Overdoses in Lisbon, the Iberian country's capital and largest city, nearly doubled from 2019 to 2023, while in Porto, the second-largest city, drug paraphernalia strewn about the streets rose 24% from 2021 to 2022, and crime increased 14% — something police said is related to drug use.
However, Portuguese illicit drug use and overdose death rates are still below the European average, and Lehman said,"It is hard, at this point, to argue that Portugal’s decriminalization approach is a disaster." "In Portugal, you can still be arrested for public drug possession. You’re just referred to a 'dissuasion commission,' which asks about your drug use and refers you to treatment if you agree that your use has become disruptive or problematic," he explained.Dr.
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