Portuguese priorities

Portugal’s response to drug use been the subject of much scrutiny and debate
Nick Warburton
Drink and Drugs News
Monday, October 11, 2010

portprioritiesIn July 2001, the Portuguese government introduced Law 30, setting in train a radical new approach to illicit drug use. In practice, it decriminalised the possession of certain quantities of drugs for personal use, instead referring users to one of the country’s 20 ‘dissuasion commissions’. Allied with decree 183 – which significantly expanded the network of harm reduction programmes – this meant that heroin users could seek help rather than face the wrath of the police.