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Consider This from NPR

Does Portugal Have The Answer To Stopping Drug Overdose Deaths?

Feb 20, 2024
Journalist Brian Mann explores Portugal's successful model of decriminalizing drugs and providing addiction services, which has led to a drastic drop in overdose deaths. Contrasting the US approach, Portugal treats addiction as a health issue, not a crime. Could this approach help the US combat its opioid epidemic?
10:37

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Quick takeaways

  • Treating addiction as an illness, not a crime, can significantly reduce overdose deaths by prioritizing healthcare over criminalization.
  • Police in Portugal act as allies, guiding drug users to treatment instead of arresting them, contributing to a healthcare-focused model.

Deep dives

Portugal's Approach to Drug Policy: A Radical Shift

Portugal has successfully tackled its drug crisis by taking a radically different approach to drug policy. Unlike the United States, Portugal has decriminalized small amounts of drugs and prioritized healthcare over criminalization. By publicly funding addiction services and providing free drug treatment programs, Portugal has significantly reduced overdose deaths. People in Portugal are 45 times less likely to die from overdoses compared to the US. This demonstrates that treating addiction as an illness, rather than a crime, can save lives and provide better recovery opportunities.

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