Why hardly anyone dies from a drug overdose in Portugal

[Pointedstick]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/won ... -portugal/

Portugal decriminalized the use of all drugs in 2001. Weed, cocaine, heroin, you name it -- Portugal decided to treat possession and use of small quantities of these drugs as a public health issue, not a criminal one. The drugs were still illegal, of course. But now getting caught with them meant a small fine and maybe a referral to a treatment program -- not jail time and a criminal record.

[...]

The prevalence of past-year and past-month drug use among young adults has fallen since 2001, according to statistics compiled by the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, which advocates on behalf of ending the war on drugs. Overall adult use is down slightly too. And new HIV cases among drug users are way down.

Now, numbers just released from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction paint an even more vivid picture of life under decriminalization: drug overdose deaths in Portugal are the second-lowest in the European Union.

[...]

Still, it's very clear that decriminalization hasn't had the severe consequences that its opponents predicted. As the Transform Drug Policy Institute says in its analysis of Portugal's drug laws, "The reality is that Portugal’s drug situation has improved significantly in several key areas. Most notably, HIV infections and drug-related deaths have decreased, while the dramatic rise in use feared by some has failed to materialise."

[Libertarian666]

Interesting.  I think this is one issue the Libertarians are exactly right about.

That's a good start!

[Libertarian666]

Interesting.  I think this is one issue the Libertarians are exactly right about.

That's a good start!

I assume you mean a good start for Libertarians!   

Now they just need to change their stance on immigration, and I'll be on board.

No, of course I meant a good start for you.
Now all you need to do is to accept that liberty is better than the alternative, and you'll be on board!

[Libertarian666]

I assume you mean a good start for Libertarians!   

Now they just need to change their stance on immigration, and I'll be on board.

No, of course I meant a good start for you.
Now all you need to do is to accept that liberty is better than the alternative, and you'll be on board!

I'm a recovering Libertarian.

I hope you get your libertarianism (note the small "l") back in due time.

[frugal]

But there are addicted people parking cars...