Most people are aware that the so-called “War on Drugs” isn’t working, but what are the alternatives? Legalisation, decriminalisation, and harm reduction are the most popular alternatives but often not well understood.

Given human nature, war is a simple concept that the public often prefers, although we all know our passion for drugs, legal or illegal, is a complex thing by nature.

Harm reduction & illicit drug use

‘The theory of harm reduction supports illicit drug users and their communities in reducing drug-related harm. It challenges the traditional responses by supporting the individual and community rather than repression, incarceration and being judgmental.

While abstinence from all drugs is the ideal, harm reduction recognises that most humans will choose a certain level of drug use and will aim to reduce the negative impact. Harm reduction is officially part of Australian public health policy.

Decriminalisation of illicit drugs

This frees the drug user/possessor from criminal status, and limits the punishment for drug possession (under a certain amount) to a citation and minimal fine. This approach has been adopted in many parts of the world, including Australia, for certain drugs like cannabis, but leaves cultivating, distributing, and trafficking as criminal offences.

The Dutch method

In Holland, a separation between the market for ‘soft’ drugs (ie. cannabis) and the market for ‘hard’ drugs (such as heroin and cocaine). For example, the sale and possession of marijuana is allowed under strict conditions, while heroin is combatted as strongly as possible. One advantage may be that users of cannabis are not exposed to a multi-drug market of harder drugs.

Legalisation of illicit drugs

This can take many forms. The strongest approach demands a free-market distribution of all drugs, including speed, heroin and marijuana but most advocates for legalisation want a more controlled approach. Some want tight government controls on the ‘harder’ drugs with licensing, taxation, controls on advertising and no sales allowed to minors. Others believe only cannabis should be made legal. Others propose legalisation of all drugs but a distribution through health centres to carefully monitor the health of users.

Legalisers say this will eliminate the huge cost of fighting the drug war in terms of prosecution, prisons, policing and health services. They also point to reduced crime levels, less overdoses and fewer health problems arising from illicit production and distribution.

Critics believe there would be huge increases in drug use, on the assumption that many people are deterred from drug use if it is deemed illegal by the Government. This is the crux of the legalisation debate. The legalisers argue that those who want to use heroin, speed or grass are already doing it, and the law makes no difference. The prohibitionists believe that many people would use these drugs if they were allowed to by the Government.

Click here to return to the home page of Safer Injecting - the harm reduction guide for injecting drug users

GO TO THE HOME PAGE

This article has been reproduced from http://www.quihn.org by courtesy of QuIHN who hold copyright.
Please note that copyright varies throughout the site. If you would like to reproduce information from this site, please note the author and contact them.