Many years ago, Portugal effectively legalized drug use and seemed to succeed in doing so. Now, there are questions about that success. Addiction is real. Drugs are addictive. Addicts are not rational decision makers; the addiction makes the choice for them.
This has been my concern about legalizing marijuana. You legalize something, you normalize it. You normalize something as corrosive as crack cocaine or meth and you're going to have problems. Even pot isn't immune to abuse. That some advocates speak in terms of "rights" - you have the "right" to use drugs - if this drug use makes cities unlivable, as parts of Porto are becoming, then other rights are impeded.
I understand the argument that alcohol is also incredibly corrosive to many people's lives, but I'm not sure booze being legal and bad is an argument for drugs being legal and bad.
Are we ready to legitimately fund programs to get people off the streets and into treatment? I doubt it. My "favorite" bit of nonsense is how the ubiquitous gambling sites all come with a warning about problem gambling and how to access help. Who thinks this works?
If a city - in Europe or America - REALLY committed to treating addiction and ending homelessness, what would it cost? Would it even work?
One thing seems clear, increasing access to drugs will not solve this problem.
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