By: Saya Alvares

People Editor

While decriminalization of drugs remains a prominent topic nationally and globally, I remain set on the fact that — specifically in San Francisco and the rest of the United States — it should remain criminalized. With the increase in overdoses throughout this past year, especially with a high percentage of them being due to fentanyl, decriminalization is not the answer. Additionally, America differs from other countries, such as Portugal, where the timing and population differences deem the two incomparable.  

When I refer to drugs, I reference those recently decriminalized in Oregon: heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. According to the Wall Street Journal, drug use in Oregon skyrocketed with the implementation of Measure 110 in 2021, which decriminalized possession. The goal of Measure 110 was to treat possession of drugs as a public health issue instead of a criminal issue. This means that someone can go out into the street and inject themselves with heroin or snort a line of cocaine with the only repercussion being a citation. This leaves the streets open to drug use and the unsafe transfer of fluids between needles, another byproduct of decriminalization. The total of unintentional opioid overdoses, which rose from 738 in 2021 to 956 in Oregon 2022, clearly proves that decriminalization has yet to solve the problem. 

Those who support decriminalization often credit Portugal as a successful example, as Portugal turned itself from “the heroin capital of the world” to having one of the lowest drug-induced death rates in Europe. However, Portugal began its decriminalization in 2001, a time when fentanyl did not have the substantial influence that it currently has in America today. In the past decade alone, the rise in deaths due to fentanyl in America is frightening; in 2010, 235 overdosed and the number rose to 34,429 in 2021. Portugal did not have to consider fentanyl as a factor when implementing decriminalization. America’s fentanyl problem should hold massive weight in the consideration of decriminalization as legalizing fentanyl possession can lead to an increase of this already horrific statistic.

Legal consequences play an important role in aiding drug addiction. The thought process behind decriminalizing possession is to put fine money towards rehabilitation centers or addiction treatment. The truth is, unfortunately, treatments for addiction are not as successful as advertisements make them out to be. According to the Washington Post, 40 to 60 percent of addicts relapse within one year of addiction treatment. Similarly, 75 percent of those who reported being in substance abuse recovery also reported using within the past year. These painful statistics result in a hard truth: sometimes the most effective method of recovery comes from legal consequences.

Overall, decriminalizing drugs is not the simple answer to this complicated issue, and should be reconsidered and reevaluated before implementation. While there is not a straightforward answer or solution, I truly believe that it is not decriminalization. Instead, I believe that possession and usage of these harmful substances should remain with legal consequences. 

(Sources: EMCDDA, Oregon Health Authority, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post)