Here
is what happened when just one illegal drug was regulated and controlled
-
§ Homelessness reduced to 1%
-
§ Unemployment reduced from 73% to 44%
-
§ Illicit drug use reduced
-
§ Health of individuals improved
-
§ Serious property offences reduced by 98%
-
§ Other property offences reduced by 88%
-
§ Selling soft drugs reduced by 70%
-
§ Selling hard drugs reduced by 91%
-
And this approach saved money
The
story
In
1994 the Swiss began a trial of prescribed and supervised injection of heroin.
Over 1000 people took part in the trial. They were people who were severely
addicted, were homeless, unemployed, had severe health problems and were
polydrug users and who had failed all other available treatments.
The
outcomes were monitored and they exceeded all expectations. The practice of
prescribing and supervising the use of diacetylmorphine (heroin) to severely
addicted persons for whom all other treatment option have failed, now forms a
permanent health treatment both in Switzerland and a number of other European
countries.
The
results
Within
the first 3 months the participants were no longer homeless, their polydrug use
had reduced and their health had improved. And this trend continued.
After
6 months their income from illegal activity went down from 59% to 10 % and
criminal offenders and offences down by 60%.
After
12 months incidence rates for:
§
Serious property offences reduced by 98%
§
Other property offences reduced by 88%
§
Selling soft drugs reduced by 70%
§
Selling hard drugs reduced by 91%
The
Swiss were pleased with the estimated net saving of SwFr45 per patient day.
These
are some of the benefits of regulation of an illegal drug. And this is just one
example of what could be achieved through regulation.