The document discusses approaches to drug policy, including: - National survey data showing most students try illegal drugs due to fun, curiosity or stress relief, not peer pressure. - WHO defines drug dependence as prioritizing drug use over other behaviors. - Decriminalization is advocated by some to treat drug users as patients, not criminals. - Criminalization pushes drug use underground and deters treatment due to stigma. Harm reduction is suggested instead. - Portugal and Czech Republic had success treating drug use as a health issue with decriminalization and treatment programs.

1. Tim Bingham
Independent Researcher
8th Annual UCC Journalism Conference
University College Cork
12th
February 2016
MOVING FORWARD BY CHANGING THE
NARRATIVE

2. NATIONAL STUDENT DRUG SURVEY
 82% of students have tried illegal drugs
 Why they do not use illegal drugs 16% health consequences and 9% due to criminality
 Why they do consume illegal drugs fun (27%), curiosity (19%) and“ switching off” (13%). Among the
lowest is peer pressure at 6%
Bingham.T, O’Driscoll, C. and De Barra, G. National Student Drug Survey 2015

3. WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION
Diseases and Health Problems (ICD-10) defines the dependence
syndrome as being a cluster of physiological, behavioural, and
cognitive phenomena in which the use of a substance or a class of
substances takes on a much higher priority for a given individual than
other behaviours that once had greater value.

4. DECRIMINALISATION
PATIENTS
NOT
CRIMINALS

5. Victims of Human Trafficking treated as Criminals

6. PUBLIC OPINION
Public antipathy towards people who use or are dependent on drugs is amplified by terminology
used in media reporting.
Principle 8 on Prejudice

7. MEDIA HEADLINES

9. SEE THE NEEDLE NOT THE PERSON
ADDICT
CLEAN
DRUG ABUSER
JUNKIE

10. PATIENT

11. Some studies have found that local policing tactics can contribute to increased health risks for
PWUDs. E.g, the criminalisation of drug possession encourages people who inject drugs
(PWIDs) to inject hurriedly in unsafe environments and increasing risks of transmitting
bloodborne viruses
Generally, prohibition of drugs increases their price, which can encourage users to inject (rather
than smoke or snort) in order to maximise their intake from a limited supply. The transition to
injection is itself associated with major health risks internationally
Applying harm reduction principles to the policing of retail drug markets Alex Stevens 2013

13. Criminalisation – and the associated stigma and
discrimination – frequently pushes drug use into
unhygienic and unsupervised marginal environments,
increasing risks. It can additionally deter the hardest-
to-reach individuals from seeking treatment, for fear of
condemnation, judgement or arrest.

14. NO WAY OUT
Its my job, too much depends on it. I have accumulated high amounts of
debt it is like a revolving door. Your owed money and you owe money”
There was also the sense that this was their identity not something that
could be slipped out of
O’Reilly & Ruane (2011)

16. DECRIMINALISATION AND MEDICALLY
SUPERVISED INJECTING CENTRES
“I believe that this kind of approach will only work if it is accompanied by timely
treatment and harm reduction services, backed up by wrap-around supports
which foster recovery – such as housing, health and social care.
“Above all, the model must be person-centred and involve an integrated approach
to treatment and rehabilitation based on a continuum of care with clearly defined
referral pathways.”
Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin – London School of Economics November 2nd

17. PORTUGAL & CZECH REPUBLIC
 The Czech Republic and Portugal have decriminalised possession of small amounts of drugs
so the state can focus resources on prevention and treatment rather than overcrowded
prisons.
 Czech Republic - While drugs remain illegal, most people caught in possession of drugs for
their own use receive an administrative fine rather than a criminal record.
 Brendan Hughes, legal analyst at the EMCDDA, said “The decriminalisation is a red herring.
It’s the dissuasion panels that make Portugal unique.

18. o Up until recently Ireland was the only country in the EU to not have any scheme
o Less than a 12-month custodial sentence or 24-month suspended sentence not subsequently
revoked
o Become spent after 7 years
o One other conviction received in the district or circuit court, for which the sanction received was less
than a 12-month custodial sentence or 24-month suspended sentence not subsequently revoked.
Flaws in the Bill to enable Rehabilitation
o Remove the cap on the number of convictions that may become spent
o Need to be proportionate relationship between the nature of the sanction and the rehabilitation
period, rather than the blanket 7 year period for all sanctions, whether a small fine or 12 months in
prison.

20. The unintended consequence[of international drug control] is
the way we perceive and deal with the users of illicit drugs. A
system appears to have been created in which those who fall
into the web of addiction find themselves excluded and
marginalized from the social mainstream, tainted with a moral
stigma, and often unable to find treatment even when they
may be motivated to want it.”
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2008 World Drug Report

21. CONTACT DETAILS
Tim Bingaham
Email : info@timbingham.ie
Twitter :@binghaminfo
Website www.timbingham.ie