News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on 14 Years After Decriminalizing Drugs, Portugal’s Bold Risk Paid Off. Parent comment

Re:14 Years After Decriminalizing Drugs, Portugal’s Bold Ris... by lm2s on Saturday July 29, 2017 @07:07AM (#14880607)
It's not really misleading if you know the how and why. For the addicts to accept health services help (like clean needles or getting off heroin) they could not be under threat of going to jail.

So you decriminalise to allow addicts to come forth and accept clean needles and other help, while simultaneously investing more money to provide that help.

It's a two prong "attack" and it's pretty simple actually.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:14 Years After Decriminalizing Drugs, Portugal’s Bold Ris... by jdmoreira on Saturday July 29, 2017 @10:32AM (#14881391)
Exactly. Also, decriminalizing sends a message to the population that addicts are not criminals but people that by a series of mistakes and bad decisions are currently in a bad situation and in need of help.
[ Parent | on HN ]