In Portugal, Harm Reduction plays a crucial role when the needs of people who use drugs are at play but there are still a lot to advocate for. Article by Ximene Rego from APDES (Portugal).
Portugal
Portugal Beyond Decriminalisation: Challenges to Harm Reduction
Portugal is praised for its decriminalisation model but austerity measures often undermine the well-being of people who use drugs and thus, endanger the whole system. Ximene Rego from the research team of our Portuguese partner, APDES assessed the situation.
Is Crack [still] Wack? – The Need For Crack Cocaine HR Measures In Portugal
‘Despite the fact that drug use has been decriminalised in Portugal, there seems to be a lasting resistance to framing drug use beyond public health and public disorder issues.’
Harm Reduction: Pragmatism and Radicalism
An interview with Ricardo Fuertes, a young psychologist, about his experiences at working in the harm reduction field in Barcelona and Lisbon.
Preventing avoidable deaths: what steps to take to mitigate opioid overdose?
Today is the Inernational Overdose Awareness Day. On this occasion, please read an article about how to prevent opioid overdoses, written by our partners from APDES, Portugal!
Room for Change! – The Campaign Website
Sharing of injecting equipment by people who use drugs leads to infections, such as Hepatitis C or HIV. Discarded needles on the streets are not welcomed by people who live in the area. The solution does not lie in the hands of the police – arresting people who use drugs does not reduce the number of drug users, but pushes them to use in a more risky way, and to discard their needles as soon as possible. The old ways of fighting drug problems don’t work. This is a campaign to find new solutions – to provide room for change.
Room for change – Versão portuguesa
A partilha de material entre utilizadores de drogas pode levar a infeções, como a Hepatite C e o VIH. As seringas deixadas no chão não são bem vistas pelos habitantes de determinadas zonas. A solução não passa pela intervenção das forças policiais e a detenção dos utilizadores de drogas não reduz o consumo. Na verdade, pode levar as pessoas a consumos mais perigosos e a pensar que se devem ver livres das seringas o mais depressa possível. Os métodos antigos de combate às drogas já não são eficazes. Esta é uma campanha para se encontrarem novas soluções e promover uma mudança.
The Not-So-Balanced Approach – Policy Responses to New Psychoactive Substances
Our new report (PDF) aims to assess the various policy responses to new psychoactive substances (so called “legal highs”) in five European countries – Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Serbia – , from the perspective of researchers, service providers, law enforcement officials and activists working with the most affected communities of people who use drugs.
The Big Legal High Boom – And It’s Consequences
Videos of a conference organised by Drugreporter at the European Parliament on new psychoative substances.
An insight into the work of a harm reduction NGO in Portugal
Drugreporter proudly presents the second part of HCLU’s documentary on Portugal’s reformist drug policy approach.