Where did you get this from? No one I know seriously considers changing the structure that's in place. Maybe some politician said something and it somehow reached your news feed.
That is just the first Google hit.
https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/is-portugals-dru...
The prediction (at the time) by those against the program was that Portugal would become a giant Amsterdam, and drug tourism would rise and the country would be awash in drugs and drug users.
None of that happened. We are still around or below European averages.
Isn’t this consistent with decriminalization that people aren’t afraid to talk about past drug use? You see similar statistics with, say, people coming out of the closet when homosexuality is decriminalized; which conservatives like to paint as “legalization making people gay”. The OD cases could also be from people more readily calling for help rather than trying to cover up.
https://www.publico.pt/2023/10/31/sociedade/noticia/consumo-...
After years of economic crisis, Portugal decentralized its drug oversight operation in 2012. A funding drop from 76 million euros ($82.7 million) to 16 million euros ($17.4 million) forced Portugal’s main institution to outsource work previously done by the state to nonprofit groups, including the street teams that engage with people who use drugs."
From the Washington Post article. https://web.archive.org/web/20230816172031/https://www.washi...
If you want to hear from the people who implemented the program itself, their thoughts and how successful they were, there are Portuguese language podcasts. Maybe OAI Whisper can translate them.
There's plenty of coverage in local media about the issues with the program. Many related to underfunding. Something like 80% less than it was in previous years, according to the comments in your HN link. The points I made - focus on public health - psychiatrists instead of jail - HIV transmission massively reduced - remain.
It's mostly a complaint piece by Porto mayor Rui Moreira. Joao Goulao, the actual architect of the program points to what actually happened.
"João Goulão — head of Portugal’s national institute on drug use and the architect of decriminalization — admitted to the local press in December that “what we have today no longer serves as an example to anyone.” Rather than fault the policy, however, he blames a lack of funding.
After years of economic crisis, Portugal decentralized its drug oversight operation in 2012. A funding drop from 76 million euros ($82.7 million) to 16 million euros ($17.4 million) forced Portugal’s main institution to outsource work previously done by the state to nonprofit groups, including the street teams that engage with people who use drugs."
There might be some conservative people that agree with you, but I think most strongly religious conservatives wouldn't. IMO it does come down to punishment. Druggies have sinned and must be punished, spare the rod and all that.
For 16! Million! That's a preposterous result.
Yes, except that instead of politicians, it's "police" (and statisticians); and instead of a news feed, it's literally the article we are commenting on.
All I found was "Crimes such as robbery in public spaces rose 14% from 2021 to 2022, which police have in part blamed on the rise in drug use."
Are you American? Is this some point of pride for you to be agaisnt this kind of program?
(italics for emphasis)
> Are you American?
Yes
> Is this some point of pride for you to be agaisnt this kind of program?
On the contrary! I am in favor of this kind of program. I am very critical of my country's war on drugs. It is a war with one singular belligerent: US.
That's not one bit compelling, and doesn't support what you're saying
Please check who you are replying to.
> some text
I assumed that to be a quote. Was it not?
---
> and you shouldn't have brought it up in the first place.
You mean the article we are commenting on shouldn't have brought it up in the first place.
I agree! My point is that it did indeed bring it up. Nothing more.
You are arguing with no one, and directing it at me.
I mean that you in particular shouldn't have brought it up. You should apply your reasoning, and not argue using bad arguments. If the article has a bad argument, don't repeat it.
Did you read literally any other part of my comments?!?
I agree that this article's claim really should be backed by a source.
Unnamed sources have been used since forever by journalists to create stronger articles, but I disagree with their use entirely. If you're going to quote someone, quote them. Don't tell me "local residents", or "local police" think this or that. It seems like a journalistic writing tactic that blurs the truth more than it clarifies.
The increase in drug use that's being described happened in the last 3-4 years. The decriminalisation policy is from 2001. So the increase is not connected to the policy, thus the police is not asking for a repeal of it.
The increase in drug use and decriminalisation are not related, basically. So the sentence you quoted, I don't see how that is a request from the police for a review.
I've read this article since everyone here kept quoting it.
It contains two "criticisms".
First Porto's well connected mayor, Rui Moreira, and his people, saying that the problem is out of control. It very likely is, in Porto. I live there and it's kind of shit since the pandemic.
The second one (and in my view the only one that matters) is by the architect of the program Joao Goulao.
"João Goulão — head of Portugal’s national institute on drug use and the architect of decriminalization — admitted to the local press in December that “what we have today no longer serves as an example to anyone.” Rather than fault the policy, however, he blames a lack of funding.
After years of economic crisis, Portugal decentralized its drug oversight operation in 2012. A funding drop from 76 million euros ($82.7 million) to 16 million euros ($17.4 million) forced Portugal’s main institution to outsource work previously done by the state to nonprofit groups, including the street teams that engage with people who use drugs."
So yeah here's the thing.
No one is having second thoughts about the program, they've just massively defunded it to the point its architect says it barely works, and the Porto mayor got to complain about it to the Washington Post, likely because he has a really good PR company.
That's it.
Rui Moreira is not even a part of any major party.
No data on Portuguese support for the program is ever mentioned.
No major politician is ever quoted.
The statement that "the Portuguese are having second thoughts" remains unsourced, unless you are talking about Rui Moreira.
I've read it in July.