Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Video & Multimedia
Related: About this forumWhat happened when Portugal decriminalised drugs
Instead of arresting drug users Portugal did the opposite.
June 14, 2015 by True Activist
In the video, The Economist tells the story of how Portugal sparked a global movement for change.
In 2001 Portugal implemented a policy putting its people first. The new law enabled citizens to possess small quantities of any drugs so it was not a criminal offence for casual users to enjoy their drug of choice.
The states resources are focused on addicts, so instead of being punished they are offered help. A staggering 90 % of the anti drug resources are spent on treatment and only 10% on punishment. State funded outreach workers are handing out clean needles, smoking pipes and offers free advice to drug users. Decriminalisation removed much of the stigma addicts felt as they were not seen as outcastes anymore.
Since the new law was implemented drug related deaths dropped from 80 in 2001 to only 16 in 2012.
http://www.trueactivist.com/this-is-what-happened-when-portugal-decriminalised-drugs/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TrueActivist+%28True+Activist%29
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
3 replies, 997 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (8)
ReplyReply to this post
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What happened when Portugal decriminalised drugs (Original Post)
polly7
Jun 2015
OP
While far from perfect what Portugal has done has improved the outlook tremendously.
Enthusiast
Jun 2015
#1
The strange and unique focus of the American justice system on punishment and mainly
Fred Sanders
Jun 2015
#2
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)1. While far from perfect what Portugal has done has improved the outlook tremendously.
Just another fine example of American exceptionalism failure.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)2. The strange and unique focus of the American justice system on punishment and mainly
punishment only, for criminal offenses, and it's concurrent astronomic imprisonment and execution rate, goes hand in hand with the failure of the war on drugs.
It is a cultural failure, isn't it?
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)3. Depends on your goal....
If your goal is to make poor people into slave labor and then brand them so they can't vote, can't get a job and return to slave labor...