Latin America Decriminalizes the Use of All Drugs Resulting in Lower Crime/HIV Cases

Portugal, Latin America Ends Their Drug War

Illegal drugs are not a criminal problem, but a health problem. Latin American governments say the war on drugs is a failure and they are now decriminalizing the use of all drugs. Yes, I said all drugs!

Portugal, 2001: with a predominantly Catholic population, Portugal changed its very hard line against drugs and now allows all narcotic and illicit drugs, including heroin, cocaine and crystal meth.

Those who are caught with illicit drugs are made to go to a psychologist and/or health center for treatment. But they do not have to go! The results of decriminalizing Portuguese drug possession? All drug use there has declined, from heroin to marijuana. HIV cases from intravenous use/sharing needles has also declined.

Across the globe in the USA, with its severe criminal policies, cocaine and heroin use has escalated. We spend billions of dollars every year fighting it. It's a well-known law: Whatever you resist will persist. More “criminals” are in our jails from "illegal" drug use than any other crime. Meanwhile, gangs deal drugs, carry out drive-by shootings to protect their turf, and Washington just keeps spending more and more money to fight the war I like to call “The War on Drug Addicts.”

We need to wake up.

Source: Don Hayes, Editorial, February 16, 2010: "Building More Prisons in Florida Isn't the Answer,” St. Petersburg Times (FL).
Image Credit: EnchantedLearning.com

Drug Law Reform: Perils of the Afflicted

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