Drug Policy and Practice SARAH ABRUZZINI; BIOMEDICAL; DR. ANDREA - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Easier to Get Heroin Than Help: Shifting the Discourse on U.S. Drug Policy and Practice

SARAH ABRUZZINI; BIOMEDICAL; DR. ANDREA HILL UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA

https://www.seekpng.com/ipng/u2q8e6y3w7i1r5t4_spilled-pill-bottle-png-tablet/

Portugal's Radical Approach...

• Acceptance of addiction as condition

needing medical care

• Decriminalization of drug use and

possession of small quantities

• Focus on treatment and harm

reduction

• Civil fines and penalties for

deterrence

https://www.statista.com/chart/20616/key-developments-since-portugal-decriminalized-drugs/

Problems in the current U.S. system

• Punitive system --> Mass

incarceration

• Compulsory treatment --> Focus
• n abstinence
• Mundipharma --> global spread

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/history-mass-incarceration

Meeting the experts...

Dr. . Paul La Lakosky, , Ph.D .D. with the Tacoma Needle Exchange Mark Cooke, Policy Advocate with the ACLU Dr. . David Sapienza, , MD with Bupe Path thways Tiarra Dearbone, Project Manager with LE LEAD

Reasons for hope...

Success and expansion of groups like LEAD Harm reduction as effective approach Infrastructure in place for shift Public opinion on the cusp of change