The War on Drugs

Portugal decided to get out of the war in 2001 and decriminalized drug use and possession. Here are some of the results of that move, courtesy of Mark Perry:

1. There is little evidence of drug tourism: 95% of those cited for drug misdemeanours since 2001 have been Portuguese.

2. The level of drug trafficking, measured by numbers convicted, has declined.

3. The incidence of other drug-related sexually transmitted diseases has decreased dramatically.

4. Deaths from drug overdoses have also decreased dramatically.

5. The number of addicts registered in drug-substitution programs has risen from 6,000 in 1999 to over 24,000 in 2008, reflecting a big rise in treatment (but not in drug use).

6. Between 2001 and 2007 the number of Portuguese who say they have taken heroin at least once in their lives increased from just 1% to 1.1%.

7. Portugal has one of Europe’s lowest lifetime usage rates for cannabis.

8. Heroin and other drug abuse has decreased among vulnerable younger age-groups.

9. The share of heroin users who inject the drug has also fallen, from 45% before decriminalisation to 17%.

10. Drug addicts now account for only 20% of Portugal’s HIV cases, down from 56% before.

How much are we spending every day on this war? How many wars can we fight?