Drug statistics are showing an increase in drug use and drug related deaths in Portugal in many areas, but the facts are being spun out to support political arguments.
“Drug-induced deaths in Portugal that decreased from 369 in 1999 to 152 in 2003,
climbed to 314 in 2007 – significantly more than the 280 deaths recorded when
decriminalization started in 2001”. (EMCDDS, Statistical Bulletin 2009, Table DRD-2.)
The Portugal experience is about proactive treatment of an illness. We can do this in the UK and do not have to change the law for this.