For the last century, the world, led by the US and the UK, have treated addictions as criminal acts that need to be punished. But it’s time to stop and consider whether that makes sense and whether that’s right and appropriate.
If you watch the TED talk below, you’ll come to find out that a much more powerful way to overcome addictions is to engage addicts and give them purpose.
Portugal decriminalised all drug use in the year 200 and since then, they have seen dramatic changes in the number of addicts, and the criminal and social implications that come with addiction, such as HIV rates. It’s time to rethink how we treat addicts and whether punishing them really is the right course of action.