Portugal decriminalized drugs in 2001, paving the way for Oregon. A recent Washington Post article suggests the country’s positive trends are turning around.
Author: Pat Dooris, Jamie Parfitt
Published: 5:43 PM PDT July 21, 2023
Updated: 6:15 PM PDT July 21, 2023
PORTLAND, Ore. — In the run-up to the November 2020 election, proponents of Measure 110 cited the European nation of Portugal as a positive example of what can be accomplished by decriminalizing drugs for users. But now there are signs that the country’s once-promising program has run into trouble.
KGW’s The Story has reported before on how Oregon’s Measure 110 perhaps didn’t mirror Portugal’s model near enough. The consequences for drug users, which Portugal has used as a method of directing people into treatment, are much weaker in Oregon. Portugal also has universal health care, which helps ensure that anyone can seek help when they need it without being turned away.