I did not mean to be dismissive about that. The Drugs: International Comparators report, which was referenced by several noble Lords, is clear that the success in Portugal cannot be attributed to decriminalisation and dissuasion panels alone. While drug use went down and health outcomes went up, there was at the same time a significant investment in treatment, which has already been referred to. That is an important part of it. That report could have looked at some of the—albeit modest—successes which we have had in this country with our approach. What is beyond doubt is that it is not just enforcement or the law but also education and health treatment which are at the heart of our being able to deal with this problem.
Psychoactive Substances Bill [HL]
Proceeding contribution from
Lord Bates
(Conservative)
in the House of Lords on Tuesday, 30 June 2015.
It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL)
and
Debate on bills on Psychoactive Substances Bill [HL].
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
762 c1957 
Session
2015-16
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Librarians' tools
Timestamp
2015-07-01 13:07:05 +0100
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