HM411 Healthcare Management

Question: Understanding the Hesitancy to legalizing drugs. Understanding that a change like this comes with hesitancy Effect it could have on the culture of Vancouver The concern that vulnerable youth will be more inclined to drug usage, discuss how this wouldn’t happen as proper education would be Answer: Legalization of drug is intricately associated with a variety of fears and inhibitions. This is the main contributing factor behind the lack of inclination among the different nations legalizing the drugs. It has to be mentioned that decriminalization is not equivalent to legalization of the drugs by any means. The purpose behind the step of decriminalizing the drug possession in Portugal had attempted to address two very different aspects, ensuring people possessed lesser amount of drugs and ensuring that the addicted individuals could avail treatment for the psychological problem of addiction (Waters, 2016). Along with that, the legalization of drug will also be a direct impact at the culture of Vancouver and the lifestyle that the people are accustomed to. I would like to mention in this context that decriminalization of the drugs had been a desperate attempt of the government in Portugal to improve the addiction situation, however decriminalization cannot be the answer to any challenge. There is considerable risk of people more and more inclined towards experimenting with drug abuse if the fear of criminal offence is eliminated (Nytimes.com, 2018). Hence, there is need for better intervention approaches, possibly involving awareness and campaigns to combat the drug issue instead of decriminalizing it. Elaborating on the series of events associated with the change in the drug policies within Portugal, the year of 1999 witnessed the government of Portugal approving the national strategy for the fight against drugs in an attempt to cope with the runaway addiction problems (Hughes & Stevens, 2015). Although decriminalization or legalization of drugs like marijuana represents a revolutionary change in the law and order framework of the nation and undoubtedly a magnanimous change like this will come with a significant hesitancy from all the possible stakeholders associated with this scenario. Not only from the local citizens and society, the hesitancy will be deep rooted in the government authorities as well with respect to the possible positive and negative outcomes that this revolutionary step can lead to. Although it has to be mentioned that legalization of drug possession can lead to positive outcomes for the culture of Vancouver as well. Legalization or decriminalization will positively lead to less violence, aggression, and more harmony in the youth of the society over drug possession and illegal drug dealing (Vancouversun.com, 2018). For instance, taking the data from the after effect of drug decriminalization in Portugal, the usage rate had not skyrocketed after the decriminalization took place (Hughes & Stevens, 2015). Reports also suggest that post decriminalization in Portugal, the deaths and infection rates due to unsafe substance usage had also decreased to a considerable extent which is a very important positive take to the decriminalization of drug possession in Vancouver. Conclusion: On a concluding note, even though the concept of decriminalization of drugs is sought with hesitancy and uncertainty, proper education and awareness campaigning can implement many positive changes in the substance abuse scenario in the city and can implement many positive changes in the current status of youth in the society as well. Hence, there should be enhanced efforts to educate and aware the society, especially the youth on addiction, drug dependency and limited usage of recreational drugs to optimize the decriminalization like Portugal. References: Hughes, C. E., & Stevens, A. (2015). A resounding success or a disastrous failure: re-examining the interpretation of evidence on the Portuguese decriminalization of illicit drugs. In New Approaches to Drug Policies (pp. 137-162). Palgrave Macmillan, London. Nytimes.com(2018). Opinion | How to Win a War on Drugs. [Online] Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/opinion/sunday/portugal-drug-decriminalization.html [Accessed on 18th Nov] Vancouversun.com (2018). Daphne Bramham: Decriminalization is no silver bullet, says Portugal’s drug czar. [Online]. Retrieved from https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/daphne-bramham-decriminalization-is-no-silver-bullet-says-portugals-drug-czar [accessed on 21st Nov] Waters, L. (2016). Portuguese Experiment with Drug Decriminalization: Lessons on How to Win the War on Drugs.

HM411 Healthcare Management

Calculate the price
of
your order:

Basic features

On-demand options

Paper format

Guaranteed originality

Affordable prices

Best experts

Calculate the price of your order

Expert paper writers are just a few clicks away

HM411 Healthcare Management

Calculate the price of your order:

Basic features

On-demand options

Paper format

Guaranteed originality

Affordable prices

Best experts

Calculate the price of your order

Expert paper writers are just a few clicks away

Calculate the price
of
your order: