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The singular focus on "drug deaths due to overdose" tells an important part of the story, but not the whole story. For example, per Wikipedia, drug use may have doubled after decriminalization.* If so, that's an acceptable tradeoff to me but may not be to others.

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_Portugal



Read a bit further...

The increase in drug use observed among adults in Portugal was not greater than that seen in nearby countries that did not change their drug laws.


I believe, though am not in a position to dig up a citation right now, that the spike in drug use you're referencing was also temporary, and that usage rates fell significantly, to well below the "baseline" level after that.

Assuming that's true, pointing out the spike, without also mentioning the drop is — at best — ignorant, if not deceitful.


That's not a problem per se, as long as those drug users are happy and don't put their health at risk excessively.


I was suprised to see Lithuania so high on the list, as I didn't really think drugs were that common here. However we also have one of the highest suicide rates in the EU, so maybe ODing is a popular way to go...




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