Decriminalization Of Drug Use Research Articles

The ‘war on drugs’ has failed: Is decriminalisation of drug use a solution to the problem in South Africa?

This article engages in the debate surrounding decriminalisation of drug use and whether this is a possible solution to the problem of drug use in South Africa – a question becoming more prevalent in global discussions about drug policy and its efficacy. We argue that two aspects must be addressed when evaluating a policy: its philosophical justification and its efficacy. We find that criminalising drugs may be justified by the public harm principle, but it does not effectively achieve the purpose of preventing and decreasing drug use and associated burdens. Thus, we argue that prohibition is a constitutional limitation, but does not necessarily achieve its purpose in the least repressive or most effective way. Finally, we suggest that a solution to the drug problem will have to address the health needs of the drug user and the context, particularly socio-economic, of drug use. Decriminalisation could theoretically do this by changing society’s perception of drug users, thus helping to promote a human rights-based, public health-orientated approach to the drug problem in South Africa.

Debating Decriminalization of Drug Use in Norway

Από τη δεκαετία του 1960 και μέχρι τα μέσα του ΄80, η Νορβηγία έμελλε να ξεχωρίσει ανάμεσα στα κράτη εκείνα της Δυτικής Ευρώπης με τη μεγαλύτερη κατασταλτική δραστηριότητα στο χώρο των ναρκωτικών. Πράγματι, κατά τη συγκεκριμένη περίοδο η μέγιστη ποινή που προβλεπόταν για αδικήματα περί των ναρκωτικών αυξήθηκε από τους έξι μήνες φυλάκισης που ήταν αρχικά, στα 21 χρόνια – μέγιστο όριο ποινής για οποιοδήποτε αδίκημα σύμφωνα με τη Νορβηγική νομοθεσία. Το τμήμα ναρκωτικών της αστυνομικής υπηρεσίας της πόλης του Όσλο διεύρυνε την αρμοδιότητα του, καλύπτοντας μεγαλύτερη περιφέρεια και αντικείμενα από οποιαδήποτε άλλη αστυνομική δύναμη πρωτεύουσας Ευρωπαϊκού κράτους. Εξάλλου, οι στοχευμένες τροποποιήσεις στη νομοθεσία και τα εκτελεστικά μέτρα της, άνοιξαν το δρόμο για νέες, ριζοσπαστικές μεθόδους έρευνας στο χώρο των αδικημάτων. Τίποτα δεν έπρεπε να αποτελέσει πρόσκομμα, στο δρόμο για την επίτευξη του απώτερου στόχου, που δεν ήταν άλλος από μια κοινωνία χωρίς ναρκωτικά. Οι χρήστες ναρκωτικών ουσιών αντιμετωπίζονταν ως αντικοινωνικοί εγκληματίες, υπεύθυνοι όχι μόνο για το μεγαλύτερο τμήμα των αδικημάτων που διαπράττονται, αλλά και για διάφορα άλλα κοινωνικά προβλήματα. Αυτό που εθεωρείτο ότι χρειαζόταν, ήταν η λήψη αυστηρών ποινικών μέτρων με σκοπό τον έλεγχο της απειλής.

Debating Decriminalization of Drug use in Norway

Debating Decriminalization of Drug use in Norway

Conversation with Cees Goos

Conversation with Cees Goos

Decriminalization of Drug Use in Portugal: the Development of a Policy

Decriminalization of Drug Use in Portugal: the Development of a Policy

Decriminalization of Drug Use in Portugal: The Development of a Policy

Decriminalization of Drug Use in Portugal: The Development of a Policy

Decriminalization of Drug Use in Portugal: The Development of a Policy

Drug use is an increasing problem in Portugal. In response, following the advice of a select committee, the Portuguese government has recently issued a number of laws implementing a strong harm-reductionistic orientation. The flagship of these laws is the decriminalization of the use and possession for use of drugs. Use and possession for use are now only administrative offenses; no distinction is made between different types of drugs (hard vs. soft drugs) or whether consumption is private or in public. Although most people favor decriminalization in principle, doubts have been expressed about the way the law will be implemented because the law only sets a framework for those communities that wish to undertake such activities--it is an enabling law. This has led to a considerable lack of clarity and increases the risk of dissimilarity of implementation in different parts of the country. The future will show the effects.

Opiate users' views on decriminalisation of drug use

In this study we explored the views of 245 opiate users attending a regional drug dependency unit about decriminalisation of drug use and their perception of the consequences of free availability on themselves and society. Contrary to expectation, opiate dependent individuals were not in support of decriminalisation but favoured controlled availability.

The Australian Debate about the Legalization of Heroin and other Illicit Drugs, 1988–1991

Since 1988 a number of public figures in Australia have argued that prohibitions on the use of cannabis, cocaine, and heroin should be relaxed because current drug policies do not reflect the comparative risks of licit and illicit drug use, and many of the social costs of illicit drug use are consequences of prohibition. They have advocated a variety of proposals for reforming drug policy. Proponents of “controlled availability” have proposed that currently illegal drugs should be provided under medical supervision to persons who are dependent on them. Critics concerned about the social costs of drug policies have advocated policies to undercut the black market by increasing the availability of currently illicit drugs. The mechanisms proposed for achieving this end have included de facto and de jure decriminalization of drug use, and the provision of currently illicit drugs to licensed adults by a government monopoly. Despite a vigorous debate, drug policies have not changed because reformers have failed to convince the public that their policies will not increase the use of illicit drugs, and hence the prevalence of drug dependence and drug-related problems.

Attitudes About Decriminalization of Drug Use

Attitudes About Decriminalization of Drug Use