Comments by "Ida Larsen" (@idalarsen2540) on "Addiction EXPLODES in Portugal as Decriminalization Suffers Major Hiccups" video.

  1. Ana, leave this to the experts. You are not among them. People are also SO impatient. Tweeks ARE being made where leftist drug policies are in action. You just need time to allow for the actual experts to get numbers and data, so the policies can be tweeked the right ways. These new drug policies are a massive shift to what we´ve done for so, so long. We KNOW that criminalizing and penalizing does not work. Safety and humane treatment however, DOES work. We must also remember that the goal isn´t to get everyone to quit drugs completely, but rather delay the age people start using drugs, prevent the number of people using (especially hard drugs), prevent easily preventable diseases such as HEP A, B and C and HIV etc. The goal is HARM REDUCTION. That´s what truly matters. Sobriety is an amazing goal for many people, but not for all. Sobriety is not always a choice for someone. The goal then is STILL harm reduction via safe injection sites, free clean needles etc., and DIGNITY. Addiction is a disease, not a criminal act. Addicts deserve dignity and respect, just as much as everyone else. Drug addiction should never make you lose your human rights. Never. Also, forcing people who are not ready to quit or seek sobriety in any shape or form ought not to be pressured. That is only increasing harm and loss of respect, dignity and bodily atonomy for said people. Sobriety comes from within. One must truly want and need sobriety for oneself in order to quit whatever drug they want to quit long term. It is literally impossible to force someone to get sober.. they´ll only resent you and go deeper into their addiction, because addiction is safe to them.. at least. it is what feels safest to them. I know quite a lot about addiction on a deep level. I´ve dealt with and dealing with it personally, secondary, drugs have been a part of my whole life´s story. I sit in the board in one of Norway´s leading drug organisations. So I feel fairly qualified to speak on this issue. I´m extremely knowledgable on drugs and drug policies around the world; not that I would call myself an expert though. Yet still, I´m far more knowledgable than the average person, definitely including Ana. Ana is generally a smart woman, but is clueless when it comes to drugs and policies surrounding drugs and addicted people and their needs. Sincerely, a norwegian progressive drug user and drug addict worker/volunteer who has died of an overdose before, been homeless and seen as nothing, but who have managed to rise up and fight for not just myself, but ALL who share my experience of addiction.
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