One of the architects of Portugal’s successful drug decriminalization policy
says,
“to make
demands of addicts who are enslaved by their addiction is senseless.”
Well, it makes sense to those who profit by it, such as private prison
companies.
And Georgia is now proposing
to make field slaves out of them,
for
failing a drug test.
Inês Subtil wrote for communidad segura 11 May 2009,
Portugal: Success in harm reduction:
In 1999, Portugal broke new ground by enacting legislation that
decriminalized all drug use. Ten years later, the results are there
for all to see, results of a change that João Goulão, president of
the do Instituto da Droga e Toxicodependência (The Drugs and Chemical
Addiction Institute) IDT, believes show the law has been instrumental in
solving the problem of drug abuse, and crucial for bringing legislation
into harmony with practices and people.
A family doctor, Goulão was condecorated by the president of the
Portuguese Republic, but he says he is always ready for to roll up
his sleeves and get out in the field. At 55, he is a candidate for the
Presidency of the European Drugs Observatory, but that has not clowded
his sobriety about the work at hand.
In an exclusive interview to Comunidad Segura, Goulão discusses the
workings and the structure of the institution that he presides over, that
has set a world-wide example of success. For him, drug use is closely
associated to self-esteem. “If we could restore drug addicts their
human dignity, we would be able to demand something in return. But to make
demands of addicts who are enslaved by their addiction is senseless,”
he said.
Now that makes a lot of sense.
And Portugal demonstrates that it works.
He has more sensible things to say in the interview, including this:
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“Members will meet again on August 28 at 5 p.m. to review prospective engineering and design firms for the redevelopment project, along with October 13 at 10 a.m. City Council members will vote to approve the contract at their October 20 regular session.
