Portugal decriminalized drug use and invested in treatment options. Police in Portugal view users as needing medical attention, not punishment. This approach led to a significant reduction in overdose deaths. In the U.S., drug use is criminalized and users are often incarcerated. This approach has not been effective in reducing overdose deaths.

Other aspects of Portugal’s approach to drug addiction:

• Focus on harm reduction: Portugal’s system aims to reduce the negative consequences of drug use, such as overdose deaths and the spread of infectious diseases. This includes providing clean needles and syringes to people who inject drugs.
• Increased access to treatment: Portugal has expanded access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which combines medication with counseling and therapy. MAT has been shown to be effective in reducing drug use and overdose deaths.
• Social support services: Portugal provides a range of social support services to people with addiction, such as housing assistance, employment training, and mental health care. These services can help people address the underlying causes of their addiction and build a healthy life.

Portugal’s approach to drug addiction has been praised by experts around the world. While the approach is not without its challenges, it has been shown to be significantly more effective in reducing addiction rates and improving public health than the punitive approach taken in many other countries, including the United States.

Citation

https://www.npr.org/2024/02/24/1230188789/portugal-drug-overdose-opioid-treatment