Portugal is leading the way in reducing criminal drug trafficking by fully decriminalizing drug use in 2001. By 2008 drug addiction has dropped nearly by one-half. Also rates of HIV and hepatitus infections have dropped as a result. Crime has also reportedly decreased in Portugal.
How does it work? The government provides many treament centers for addicts where they can recieve treament with methadone, counseling, and help with their addiction problems. They recieve the methadone at no charge. The methadone helps addicts to stop using other dangerous drugs such as cocaine and heroin. But Portugal knows that some people, even under treatment, will never lose their addiction.
One problem is that criminally produced synthetic drugs are now becoming popular so that eventually some people may not be helped with the methadone treatment. To solve this problem, it may be necessary for the government to produce new, and safer drugs for addicts to use, while still providing the drugs at no charge or a very low price to discourage criminal trafficking.
Maybe the US and Mexico should give this system a try here? How nice it would be to get rid of the drug lords and criminals fighting on our border all the time with millions suffering degrading lives under their control.
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