• About
    • Insurance
    • Credentialing Partners
    • Admissions
    • Dual Diagnosis
    • Alumni Success Stories
    • Careers
  • Treatments
    • Inpatient / Detox
    • Partial Hospitalization Program
    • Intensive Outpatient Program
    • Transitional Housing
    • Family Program
    • Continuum Of Care
  • Resources
    • News & Events
    • Blog
    • Addictions
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Donate

Treat the whole person - body, mind, and spirit > CALL TODAY 314.631.4299

Harris HouseHarris House
  • About
    • Insurance
    • Credentialing Partners
    • Admissions
    • Dual Diagnosis
    • Alumni Success Stories
    • Careers
  • Treatments
    • Inpatient / Detox
    • Partial Hospitalization Program
    • Intensive Outpatient Program
    • Transitional Housing
    • Family Program
    • Continuum Of Care
  • Resources
    • News & Events
    • Blog
    • Addictions
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Donate

Three Things to Know about Decriminalizing Drugs

November 2, 2020 Posted by beanstalk Uncategorized

Syringes and pills on a table top.

By Sarah Surrey, LCSW

Oregon’s ballot includes a measure that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of hard drugs, considered small enough for “personal use”. If the measure passes, the state will be the first in the country to decriminalize hard drugs. It would join a small handful of countries around the world who have had decriminalizing measures in place for a while. Here are three things to know about decriminalizing drugs.

 

1. Slack for users, not dealers

First, decriminalizing substances is not new territory. Twenty-six states have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana. Many states faced ballot initiatives to decriminalize only within the last five years. Most legislation focuses on reducing the criminality of small amounts of marijuana. Oregon would extend similar standards to heroin, cocaine, and LSD. 

The reason criminal punishment is so severe is because of the “War on Drugs”, declared by Nixon in the 1970’s and continued in bipartisan legislation into the 1990’s. It seemed simple to handle legislatively, like a math problem with a clean solution. People caught with substances faced very concrete punishments, ranging from fines to felonies. Many faced mandatory minimum sentencing. In the past 15 years, bipartisan measures have drastically shifted. It became obvious that prisons were overflowing with people who were struggling with addiction, and not the hardened criminals from the TV commercials. 

The goal behind decriminalizing substances is about finding a new way to handle victims of addiction. Almost all legislation reduces punishment for small amounts of substances, because that’s likely the amount that a person struggling with an addiction would have with them. Most measures leave legislation in place to deal severely with people who seem to be selling or trafficking substances. 

 

2. New goals for Criminal Justice

What happens to a person who gets caught with a small amount of heroin? In Portugal, which decriminalized in 2000, that person is flagged for services. Substance use isn’t legalized, it’s decriminalized. It means that people still have to answer for possessing substances, just not through the criminal justice system. Instead, they are shifted into the medical system. Substance abuse treatment, which has grown by 20%  in Portugal, is seen as the first line of defense for dealing with substance abuse. Oregon plans to do the same thing, funneling people into treatment centers funded by taxes on the local marijuana industry. 

3. It works. But could it work here?

Here’s what research shows about decriminalizing, after watching the process unfold for twenty years in Portugal. The number of people who seek treatment is up, consistently. Overdose deaths fell, along with overdoses in general, and cases of HIV/Hep C. This means that the cost of treating all of those problems also fell. The number of people who made it into long term sobriety, and returned to gainful employment increased as well. These are drastic improvements that any community or family would appreciate. 

There are a handful of challenges that decriminalizing brings. The first is that, for a short time, drug trafficking and substance use seemed to increase. Experts think that this might be related to the perception that substance use was legalized, but both increases tapered off over time. The second is that Portugal is a country, while Oregon is a state. Portugal could get its entire system behind the initiative, whereas individual states face struggles when they try to change things without federal support. The United States is so interconnected, with a level of federal oversight and funding in so many aspects of the functioning of a state. It will be interesting to see if a state can be successful in such a broad initiative without federal support. Lastly, there are no real borders between states, and nothing stopping people struggling with addiction from moving to Oregon to avoid consequences. It will be interesting to see if Oregon can support an influx of people struggling with addiction.

 

Could a country as large and diverse as the United States duplicate the effects of a country like Portugal? Oregon might be the trailblazer towards answering that question, with other states following quickly behind it. For people impacted by addiction, there’s more to watch on Tuesday than the presidential election. 

 

Sources:

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/oregon-1st-us-state-decriminalize-hard-drugs-73932283

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/05/upshot/portugal-drug-legalization-treatment.html

Share
0

About beanstalk

This author hasn't written their bio yet.
beanstalk has contributed 281 entries to our website, so far.View entries by beanstalk

    You also might be interested in

    How a Care Model for HIV Patients May Help Those with Opioid Use Disorders

    Mar 14, 2019

    Scientists say the Cascade of Care model may offer new[...]

    The Best Intensive Outpatient Alcohol Treatment Center in St. Louis, Missouri

    The Best Intensive Outpatient Alcohol Treatment Center in St. Louis, Missouri

    Apr 29, 2022

    Are you seeking an intensive outpatient program in St. Louis,[...]

    Methamphetamine Users Are at High Risk of Death from COVID-19

    May 7, 2021

    Highlights: Habitual methamphetamine use can exacerbate the symptoms of COVID-19[...]

    Recent Posts

    • The Best In-House Treatment Facility to Battle Drug Addiction
    • The Best Intensive Outpatient Alcohol Treatment Center in St. Louis, Missouri
    • What is Sober Living?
    • 4 Reasons to Consider Rehabilitation Centers in St. Louis, MO
    • Finding Effective Alcohol Rehabilitation Treatment

    Insurance Providers

    Substance use insurance coverage and benefits can be multifaceted and will vary with the different insurance companies and plans. The Harris House Insurance Department has experience working with insurance providers to get our clients the maximum benefits possible. Let our staff do the work for you. LEARN MORE

    Insurance Providers Insurance Providers Insurance Providers

    Credentialing Partners

    Harris House is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF International). Harris House is also certified by the Missouri Department of Mental Health, approved by the Better Business Bureau as an A+ accredited charity and a proud member of United Way of Greater St. Louis. LEARN MORE

    DMH Carf BBB United Way

    Contact Us

    Let your recovery begin

    We're here to help.

    Please reach out with any questions

    CONTACT US

    314-631-4299

    • About
      • Insurance
      • Credentialing Partners
      • Admissions
      • Dual Diagnosis
      • Alumni Success Stories
      • Careers
    • Treatments
      • Inpatient / Detox
      • Partial Hospitalization Program
      • Intensive Outpatient Program
      • Transitional Housing
      • Family Program
      • Continuum Of Care
    • Resources
      • News & Events
      • Blog
      • Addictions
    • Gallery
    • Contact
    • Donate

    Treat the whole person - body, mind, and spirit > CALL TODAY 314.631.4299

    Harris HouseHarris House
    • About
      • Insurance
      • Credentialing Partners
      • Admissions
      • Dual Diagnosis
      • Alumni Success Stories
      • Careers
    • Treatments
      • Inpatient / Detox
      • Partial Hospitalization Program
      • Intensive Outpatient Program
      • Transitional Housing
      • Family Program
      • Continuum Of Care
    • Resources
      • News & Events
      • Blog
      • Addictions
    • Gallery
    • Contact
    • Donate
    About Us
    Treatments
    Resources
    Gallery
    Contact Us
    Donate

    For individuals struggling with addiction to alcohol and drugs, Harris House helps people achieve sobriety and become healthy and productive individuals. Since our founding in 1961, Harris House has grown to become a top-rated non-profit treatment center.

    CALL US TODAY

    314-631-4299

    2706 S. River Rd
    St. Charles, MO 63303

    8315 South Broadway
    St. Louis, MO 63111

    © 2022 HARRIS HOUSE FOUNDATION.

    Prev Next