My Perfect Country: Drug Decriminalisation in Portugal
Is the key to drug control decriminalisation? Fi Glover, Henrietta Moore and two panellists inspect Portugal鈥檚 policy which sees drug users as patients rather than criminals.
In 2001 the use of all drugs was decriminalised meaning possession of drugs was now identified as a public health issue rather than a criminal offence. Today, whilst drugs remain illegal, users do not receive a criminal record and are instead referred to rehabilitation and treatment programmes. Drug related deaths, HIV infection rates and use of legal highs are at an all-time low.
My Perfect Country traces the development of the policy over the last 15 years and asks whether other countries should use this model for their own legislation on drug control. The architect of Portugal鈥檚 policy Joao Goulao explains how the policy was implemented and Doctor Rodrigo Coutinho explains how it was taken on by health services. Our roving ambassador hears from the volunteers of mobile units that does not wait for patients to come to them and hears emotional recovery stories from former users. Presenter Fi Glover, academic Henrietta Moore, professor Alex Stevens from Kent University andTony Duffin of the Ana Liffey drug project in Ireland discuss how far Portugal鈥檚 policy has been successful and whether it would work in the perfect country.
(Photo: A Portuguese flag flies above a demonstration against austerity, Lisbon, 2013. Credit: Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP/Getty Images)
Last on
Catch up with Henrietta Moore, Fi Glover and Martha Lane Fox
Clips
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Why was Portugal鈥檚 drug control policy so urgently needed?
Duration: 02:32
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On the streets with a mobile drug unit
Duration: 02:32
Broadcasts
- Thu 18 Feb 2016 02:06GMT成人快手 World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Thu 18 Feb 2016 03:06GMT成人快手 World Service Online, East Asia & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Thu 18 Feb 2016 04:06GMT成人快手 World Service South Asia
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- Thu 18 Feb 2016 07:06GMT成人快手 World Service East and Southern Africa
- Thu 18 Feb 2016 13:06GMT成人快手 World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Thu 18 Feb 2016 14:06GMT成人快手 World Service Europe and the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Thu 18 Feb 2016 20:06GMT成人快手 World Service Online, Americas and the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Thu 18 Feb 2016 21:06GMT成人快手 World Service East Asia, Australasia, South Asia & West and Central Africa only
- Sat 20 Feb 2016 19:32GMT成人快手 World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sun 21 Feb 2016 05:32GMT成人快手 World Service except News Internet
- Sun 21 Feb 2016 10:06GMT成人快手 World Service except News Internet
Would society work better if drugs were decriminalised?
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