Portugal’s Drug Decriminalization: 20 Years Later, What Actually Happened?

In 2001, Portugal became the first country to decriminalize the personal possession of all drugs, replacing jail time with treatment and support. Critics warned of disaster. But 20 years later, the country’s public health and safety metrics tell a different story—one of fewer overdoses, lower addiction rates, and a more humane approach to drug policy.

At the turn of the millennium, Portugal faced one of the worst drug crises in Europe. One in 100 citizens was addicted to heroin, HIV infection rates were among the highest in the EU, and prisons were overcrowded with people arrested for drug possession. In response, the country made a bold move: it decriminalized the possession and use of all drugs for personal use.

Under the new model, those caught with small amounts of drugs are referred not to the criminal justice system, but to “dissuasion commissions” made up of health, legal, and social workers. These panels assess whether the individual needs treatment, education, or other support—but they don’t hand out criminal records. Trafficking and large-scale dealing remain crimes, but personal use is treated as a public health issue.

The results have been widely studied and often misunderstood. Drug use has remained roughly the same—but addiction rates, overdose deaths, and new HIV infections have dropped dramatically. Drug-related incarceration has plummeted. And importantly, Portugal’s approach has helped destigmatize addiction, encouraging more people to seek help.

Portugal’s experience doesn’t prove that decriminalization is a silver bullet, but it does offer a compelling case study in harm reduction. By shifting resources from punishment to treatment and prevention, the country avoided the pitfalls of the U.S. war on drugs and built a model that other nations are now studying.

It’s a reminder that bold public policy experiments, especially those grounded in compassion and data, can rewrite the future.