Decriminalization of Drugs in Portugal
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With economic success came modern problems of drug abuse
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Decriminalization of Drugs in Portugal
- 1. Decriminalization of Drugs in Portugal Carmichael Cruz Zachary Horn Christine Le Amy Olivas Stacey Sugiono Marcelo Freire
- 2. Facts & History of Portugal Population 10million, land: 92,00 square kilometers Said to have homogenous culture, language, religion, ethnicity 55 years of dictatorship and poverty 1974 - Revolution Finally establishing democracy and economic growth 1986 – Joined the European Union
- 3. History With economic success came modern problems of drug abuse Worsened in 1990s 100,000 drug addicts – 1/3rd in Lisboa Data is not taken as thoroughly in Portugal
- 4. Drug Arrests 1991 – 4,667 arrested 1995 – 6,380 arrested 1998 – 11,395 (235% increase from 1990) 61% use or possession for use 45% heroin related
- 5. Seizure of Cannibis 1990 – 1,279 1998 – 2,063
- 6. Seizure of Heroin 1990 – 1,346 1998 – 3,750
- 7. Seizure of Cocaine 1990 – 346 1998 – 1,377
- 8. In 1999 there were 40 addiction consultation centers, 5 rehabilitation centers, 2 therapeutic communities, and 4 day centers 95.4% heroin users
- 9. Treatment Cases 1990 – 56,438 1999 – 288, 038
- 10. Commission of National Drug Strategy created to combat high drug use in 90s
- 11. Decriminalization Legislature In July 2001 Portugal formally decriminalized drug possession for personal use with Law 30/2000. This law decriminalized the possession of up to a ten day supply of all types of illicit substances. However, the selling and trafficking of these drugs were still a criminal charge. Introduced a system of referral to Commissions for the Discussion of Drug Addiction
- 12. Political Reactions • Conservative politicians in Portugal feared that a wave of “drug terrorists” would descend upon Portugal because of the lack of drug supervision. • ''We are offering sun, beaches and any drug you like,'' said Paulo Portas, leader of the conservative Popular Party. • Police focus had been turned to drug traffickers as opposed to drug users; Portugal’s Socialist government now views users as victims who need help in the forms of counseling.
- 13. Drug Users Respond A drug addict, Margarida Costa, believes that this new system will be more beneficial than jail. She states, “In fact, I started taking drugs in jail…You could get everything you wanted in there, everyday.”
- 14. Doctors’Thoughts "My aim is to support them, to tell them they can have another way of life - a good life." - Dr Maria Antonia Almeida Santos, from Lisbon Toxicology Commission Prior to the decriminalization some doctors claimed that, patients would even ask them to unplug his intercom to his secretary for fear that someone might listen in on the consultation.
- 15. Media High number of HIV/AIDS cases Campaigns to raise awareness Television, radio & press, posters in clubs and bars
- 16. • “The Portuguese Experiment: Did Legalizing Drugs Work?” •Inaccurate •Discussion of unambiguous success of drug decriminalization and its impact
- 17. CATO Five years after, illegal drug use among teens in Portugal declined Rates of new HIV infections from sharing dirty needles dropped Number of people seeking treatment for drug addiction more than doubled
- 18. Judging by every metric, decriminalization in Portugal has been a resounding success…it has enabled the Portuguese government to manage and control the drug problem far better than virtually every other Western country does “ ”
- 19. • Time magazine says decriminalization has been a “huge success” •Met its central goal •Addicts learning to control drug usage or get clean at treatment centers
- 21. Skepticism •Not sole reason for decline in drug use •Peter Reuter, UMCP criminologist •Global decline in marijuana usage •Drug policy has been success for NOW •Drugs remain harmful •New problems will arise
- 22. The Cato Report Drug Decriminalization in Portugal Looked at data mostly from Institute on Drugs and Drug Addiction reports What is the Cato Institute? A Libertarian Think Tank Funded initially by one of the Koch brothers (Koch Industries) Rupert Murdoch was on board of directors Many corporation give money to Cato Visa, Wal-Mart, Microsoft
- 23. Portugal a “drug haven” for tourists? No increase in drug tourism - 95% Portuguese
- 24. Lifetime Prevalence Rates 13-15 yr olds, all drugs 14.1% in 2001 to 10.6% in 2006
- 25. 16-18 yr olds, all drugs 14.1% in 1995 to 27.6 in 2001 to 21.6 in 2006 Lifetime Prevalence Rates
- 26. Lifetime Prevalence Rates Gone down for 13-18 yr olds, all drugs Slight increase in older groups from aging expected as the drug generation gets older Usage in teens key to predicting future rates, so that is emphasized
- 27. Drug Related Phenomena The number of people in substitution treatment increased from 6,040 in 1999 to 14,877 in 2003 HIV and AIDS going down (by diagnosis)
- 28. Drug Related Death Opiates: 281 in 2001 to 133 in 2006
- 29. All Drugs: 400 in 1999 to 290 in 2006
- 30. Drug Rates vs EU Portugal lower throughout 2001- 2006
- 33. Conclusions Destigmatization of drug use Treatment goes up after user no longer afraid of punishment Drug related harms go down because more people are being treated Free citizens from fear of prosecution and imprisonment and push people to treatment
- 34. British Journal of Criminology Small increases in reported illicit drug use amongst adults Reduced illicit drug use among problematic drug users and adolescents, at least since 2003 Reduced burden of drug offenders on the criminal justice system; Increased uptake of drug treatment; Reduction in opiate-related deaths and infectious diseases; Increases in the amounts of drugs seized by the authorities; Reductions in the retail prices of drugs.
- 35. Reactions Walter Kemp, a spokesperson for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, says decriminalization in Portugal "appears to be working.“ In it’s 2009 World Drug Report the UN said, "These conditions keep drugs out of the hands of those who would avoid them under a system of full prohibition, while encouraging treatment, rather than incarceration, for users. Among those who would not welcome a summons from a police officer are tourists, and, as a result, Portugal's policy has reportedly not led to an increase in drug tourism…It also appears that a number of drug-related problems have decreased.”
- 36. U.S. Response In September 2010, White House drug czar Gil Kerlikowske visited Portugal to gain insight into their drug reform program. The Obama administration opposes legalization of drugs. Agrees with Portugal in that, “Looking at this as both a public safety problem and a public health problem seems to make a lot more sense." – Kerlikowske However, an increasing number of American cities are offering nonviolent drug offenders a chance to choose treatment over jail and it seems to be working.
- 37. Drug Courts in the U.S. In 2010, San Francisco instituted a court program where judges offered drug addicts the chance to go to rehab, get jobs, move houses, find primary care physicians and even remove their tattoos. Data showed that these courts reduced drug relapses and saved money. There are now more than 2,400 drug courts in the U.S. serving 120,000 people.
- 39. Influence on other countries a record 93 countries worldwide have offered alternatives to jail time for drug abuse in 2010
- 40. Switzerland Heroin maintenance clinics (1994) addiction has steadily declined. No one has died from an overdose since the program began The program is credited with reducing crime and improving addicts' health.
- 42. Canada Vancouver has North America's first legal drug consumption room "a safe, health-focused place where people inject drugs and connect to health care services."
- 43. Other countries that decriminalized small amounts of personal use of drugs: Brazil Spain Italy Uruguay
- 44. Doesn’t work on all countries Depends on how and what kind of policy is implemented Ex: In the Netherlands, where police ignore the peaceful consumption of illegal drugs, drug use and dealing are rising, according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Five Dutch cities are implementing new restrictions on marijuana cafes after a wave of drug-related gang violence.
- 45. Should the United States follow Portugal’s path? The Obama administration firmly opposes the legalization of drugs, saying that it would increase access and promote acceptance. “War on Drugs” The U.S. is spending $74 billion this year on criminal and court proceedings for drug offenders, compared with $3.6 billion for treatment
- 46. Should the United States follow Portugal’s path? Some do not consider Portugal a realistic model for the U.S. because of differences in size and culture between the two countries. America has the highest rates of cocaine and marijuana use in the world Population of US is 29 times larger than the 10.6 million citizens of Portugal