Decriminalization Is On The Rise - 920 Words

Across Europe the trend to and argument for decriminalization is on the rise. Advocates for legalization of drugs across Europe have touted Portugal s success and have tried to use it as a unilateral expression of decriminalization as a complete success. Portugal s success is very much also attributed to an overhaul on the healthcare and treatment of drug addicts rather than being the simple result of decriminalization (Aleem). The Czech Republic recently joined Portugal in decriminalizing drugs in 2010. The mainufacture and distribution of drugs are still highly illegal, but drug users who simply possess or even use are now free of the fear of persecution. Possession of up to 15 grams of marijuana, five grams of hash, 40 psychodelic mushrooms, one and a half grams of heroin, and a gram of cocaine are considered a usable supply of drugs in the Czech Republic. Success within the country can be measured in that roughly 70 percent of the nation s problematic drug users maintain regular contact with outreach programs and needle exchange programs. The Netherlands has noted a drop in opiate dependencies thanks to a long-established needle exchange program along with allowing the prescription of maintenance doses of diamorphine and methadone (O Neill). While many countries such as Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, and Spain have slowly moved towards a debate about decriminalization, several countries drug use has dropped below Portugal thanks to education and treatment programs.Show MoreRelatedDecriminalization Of Drug Usage Among Portugal1299 Words   |  6 Pages Decriminalization of Drug Usage in Portugal Derrick Routon American Government 101 Professor Newman 21 April 2016  Portugal has garnered a large amount of attention since adopting a new method to combat drug usage. They have moved to decriminalize low scale drug possession and usage instead of an incarceration of low level offenders. Many nations have desired to reevaluate their own regimen of substance control and the way abuses were handled. The Portuguese governmentRead MoreDrug Use And Its Effect On Crime1610 Words   |  7 PagesCrime and drug use in Portugal has been a major issue, however after the government instated decriminalization, the number has decreased. Decriminalization appears to have had a slight positive effect on crime. â€Å"With its recategorization of low level drug possession as an administrative rather than a criminal offence, decriminalization inevitably produced a reduction in the number of people arrested and sent to criminal court for drug offences from over 14,000 in the year 2000, to around 5,500-6Read MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1331 Words   |  6 Pag esWar On Drugs Decriminalization provides a solution the problems related to drugs. 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Although, pro-advocacy groups claim decriminalization of drugs will lower incarceration rates and boost the economyRead MoreTo what Extent Are Prostitution and Drug Use Associated with Sociological Variables?1214 Words   |  5 Pages For example, a woman who has been sexually violated at a young age may experience continued mental trauma as a prostitute, treating their body as an instrument to be taken advantage of by others. It has also been argued (most prominently with the rise of feminism in the 1970s) that prostitution is inherently sexist and subordinates women and other underrepresented groups. As discussed above, the traditional pimp-whore employment structure is one area in which prostitutes are mistreated on the basis