Last updated : December 23, 2024
It’s blatantly apparent that drug addiction and abuse continue to rage out of control across America destroying lives. Can legalizing or decriminalizing drugs benefit America? It’s a trending debate in the United States right now. Some believe the answer is yes stating that the nation would see a reduction in drug-related crimes.
Moreover, now that entire cities are being adversely affected, crime is on the rise and homeless encampments are overtaking entire neighborhoods. The streets are strewn with garbage and used drug paraphernalia. And for many the most horrifying aspect of this issue is that children living in these areas are forced to pass by unconscious bodies lying on the sidewalks, wandering addicts in a stupor, or people blatantly shooting up drugs as they journey to and from school.
Isn’t that a terrifying image to conjure up? No wonder we’re grasping at straws searching for a viable solution. However, is legalizing everything and hoping for the best a proper response?
Are these theories proven?
In July 2001, Portugal decriminalized the use and possession of all illicit drugs. Citizens are allowed to have up to a 10-day supply on hand. They’re also referred to an administrative panel to recommend treatment, fines, and warnings. There are penalties in place if warnings aren’t heeded.
This approach goes beyond decriminalization though. It focuses on a person’s health and emphasizes harm reduction and treatment. Portugal’s eight-part change strategy aims to alter the environment around drug addicts, thereby hoping to reduce addiction and improve overall well-being.
They treat addiction as a health issue and not a criminal one.
The country has operated in this fashion for over 20 years with impressive results.
They are:
- Significant reduction in drug-related deaths
- Increased treatment access
- Decline in HIV transmission
- Less stigmatization put on the user
- No surges in drug use
This approach initially had a positive effect on Portugal’s economy resulting in the following:
- Reduction in costs related to law enforcement, incarceration, and court proceedings
- Increased resources for addiction treatment and prevention programs
- Treatment and harm reduction services proved more cost-effective than managing the consequences of untreated addiction
- Access to healthcare results in a healthier population
- Reduced burden on healthcare systems
- Improved workforce productivity
Moreover, Portugal was recognized as a “model of best practices” by the president of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB). Economic benefits can result in increased tourism and investment.
Should we legalize hard drugs in the United States?
Let’s take a look and see how that panned out for Oregon. In 2020, voters there overwhelmingly approved legalizing small amounts of hard drugs. The measure included the legalization of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. The initiative was accompanied by new investments made by the state in addiction treatment and support services.
People found with these drugs in their possession were ticketed and fined a maximum of $100. Supporters of the change believed treatment was more beneficial than jail time when trying to help people overcome their addictions. They had a point. Statistics have proven that most drug offenders get out of jail and return to the same way of life.
The state directed $300 million, taken from Oregon’s cannabis tax revenue, be put toward addiction services. However, the funding was held up and health officials didn’t get the plan off the ground. They cited the pandemic and a rise in fentanyl-related overdose deaths as the cause.
How did that pan out?
A short 3 1/2 years later, the public’s opinion has changed after seeing a rise in overdose deaths, high rates of drug use, and open-air drug use in the streets, parks, and camping areas. In light of that fact, the state legislature has acted to restore criminal penalties for hard drug use.
In April 2024, Oregon’s Governor, Tina Kote (D), once again criminalized the use of hard drugs rolling back the voter-approved measure. Possessing them will be a misdemeanor and is punishable by up to six months in jail.
The new law, which takes effect on September 1st, also establishes ways to offer treatment as an alternative to criminal penalties. It encourages law enforcement agencies to create deflection programs diverting people to addiction and mental health services rather than becoming a part of the criminal justice system.
The governor stated in a signing letter that the law’s success depends on “deep coordination” between courts, police, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and local mental health providers, describing them as being necessary to achieve the state’s vision for this legislation to come to fruition.
By the way, Portugal is considering changes to its decriminalization laws. Drug-related overdose deaths rose between the years of 2019 and 2023. Of course, this increase could largely be tied to the pandemic because many were suffering from pandemic-induced anxiety, despair, and isolation.
Additionally, reports show that police have become less motivated to register people who misuse drugs. Moreover, when they do, there are year-long waits for state-funded rehabilitation even though the number of people seeking treatment has dropped dramatically.
The bottom line regarding crime
Regarding whether or not decriminalizing—or completely legalizing—drugs is going to reduce crime though…
It’s possible that offering treatment as a viable opportunity for individuals who are found in possession of illicit drugs, could reduce crime somewhat. After all, the three main types of drug-related crime are possession, trafficking, and manufacturing. So, yes, those numbers are likely to decrease.
Over 1.5 million people were arrested on drug-related charges back in 2018. As abuse and addiction continue to rage in America, if people found in possession of hard drugs have the opportunity to accept treatment rather than go to jail, odds are they will go for treatment.
However, in light of the following, legalizing all drugs is something that the citizens of the United States should ponder first.
- 1.1 million Americans were arrested for the sale, manufacture, or possession of illegal substances in 2019 and 2020.
- Drug arrests account for 26% of all arrests in the United States; marijuana arrests account for 11% of them.
- Heroin, cocaine, and derivative products account for 47,380 arrests across our nation each year—22,665 of them are for possession.
- There were 6,124 cases involving methamphetamine trafficking and possession during 2023.
Lastly, some experts on this matter are concerned that legalizing drugs will increase violent crime, such as murder. And murder can never be considered a positive result no matter what category it’s put under.
