Perhaps we do need to Decriminalise Drugs

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I'm in two minds about this:

• Drugs are evil, we should do everything in our power to stamp out the use of drugs. And you know I mean "illicit" drugs, such as heroin, ice, marijuana...?
  
• Drug dealers make excessive profits selling illegal drugs. So we should make drugs legal and cut off the illegal profiteering.
  
• While drug-taking is illegal, drug-takers are afraid to come forward to be supported. This makes them easier prey for drug dealers.
  

As you can see... I'm actually in more than two minds about drugs... Today's paper has swayed me -- for today -- towards legalisation.

Drugs handout gamble pays off, in The West, 28 Dec 2010. Portugal took a chance -- and it appears to have paid off.

In Portugal, drugs are still illegal. But drug users are not sent to court and on to prison. They are sent to counselling and treatment.

Now in practical terms, I'm not quite sure what this means. As I understand the article, drug sellers can still be arrested, tried, sentenced. But their customers -- the drug users -- are not criminals.

As the article says, drug users are a health issue.

(In fact, drug users are a health problem requiring a solution. But positive management thinking insists that there are no problems, only issues and challenges...)

What Portugal has done, is to remove the need for drug users to hide.

A drug user is not a criminal. They can step forward and ask for help. Without fear of earning a long spell in gaol.

What are the results? According to the article, "Portugal's program is widely seen as effective". So, what effect has it had?

• Adults drug use has increased, a small amount. Adolescents, drug users and prisoners use less. An obvious result for the prisoners because there are no drug users becoming prisoners simply because they are drug users. The other reductions are good news.
  
• Drug-related court cases have dropped. Significantly. Well, that's also obvious: drug use is no longer a crime.
  
• There was no surge in drug use. That's one fear put to bed.
  

Has Portugal's program reduced overall drug use? Apparently not. Has it reduced the profits of drug dealers? Presumably not. So why do it?

If drug use is now a health rather than a criminal "issue" -- at least it is out where it can be treated. Harm minimisation, as a start. And that, at least, has to be good.

So... Why not try it in Australia?

Because... "same say it [Portugal's program] has shortcomings." On the other hand:

• Drug use damages individuals.
  
• Drug dealers make exorbitant profits.
  
• Since drug dealing is illegal, those exorbitant profits are going to (known) criminals.
  
• Drug taking is -- in many minds -- evil in itself.
  

Decriminalisation of drug use will not fix all of those problems. It may -- indications are that it will -- help solve the first. What about the other problems?

Here's a good idea...

Let's take one step at a time.

Try the Portugese program. Use -- as they did -- money saved in the court and prison system to help recover the damaged individuals. Reduce the first problem.

And then... Try to find solutions for the the other problems.

There is no one, simple solution to all of the drug-related problems. But we can tackle the problems, one by one.

Doing nothing is not a solution.

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