Portuguese drug policy shows that decriminalisation can work, but only with other policies. | EUROPP

Alex Stevens writes on decriminalizing drug use:

International analysis, both by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and in my book Drugs, Crime and Public Health suggests there is little correlation between the level of punishment for drug offences and the rate of drug use or drug problems. The EMCDDA looked at levels of drug use in countries which had increased or decreased penalties for cannabis possession. It found no evidence that increasing penalties reduces use, or that reducing penalties increases it. I looked at the prevalence of drug use across a range of countries. I found no link between the enforcement of drug laws and levels of use.

I did find a suggestive correlation between one of the most harmful forms of drug use, by injection, and the generosity of the welfare state…… Countries with lower levels of pensions, sick pay and unemployment benefit tend to have higher rates of injecting drug use. The USA, for example, has a minimal welfare state and very tough punishments for drug offences. It still has the highest prison population in the world, with nearly half a million people imprisoned for drug offences. But it has internationally high levels of drug use, high rates of drug related deaths, and excessive rates of HIV among injecting drug users.

So to argue that criminal penalties (or their reduction) are the answer to drug problems is to miss the point.

Read his article here Portuguese drug policy shows that decriminalisation can work, but only with other policies. | EUROPP.