Fíricí agus Staidéir
Tá ár n-argóintí bunaithe ar fhianaise eolaíoch agus taithí idirnáisiúnta.
International Case Studies
🇵🇹 Portugal
Decriminalization since 2001Ó 2001, tá gach druga díchosantaithe sa Phortaingéil. De réir tuarascálacha EUDA: tá básanna drugaí i measc na gcinn is ísle san Eoraip, thit ionfhabhtuithe HIV i measc úsáideoirí drugaí go géar, tá níos mó daoine i gcóireáil, tá níos lú príosúnuithe as cionta drugaí.
The Model:
- Possession of small amounts is no longer a crime
- Instead: Referral to "Dissuasion Commissions"
- Focus on health, not punishment
- Massive investments in treatment and prevention
* Exact figures vary by source and measurement period. See EUDA reports for current data.
Foinsí: EUDA, Transform Drug Policy Foundation
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Heroin Program since 1994Léiríonn clár eisiúna hearóine na hEilvéise (ó 1994) de réir na hOifige Feidearálach Sláinte Poiblí: laghdú suntasach ar choireacht maoine, comhtháthú sóisialta níos fearr, feabhsuithe sláinte intomhaiste. Measann rialtas na hEilvéise go bhfuil an clár rathúil.
The Model:
- Heroin-Assisted Treatment (HAT) for severely addicted
- Pharmaceutically pure heroin under medical supervision
- Daily visits to specialized clinics
- Integrated into comprehensive treatment program
* Based on official evaluations by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health.
🇳🇱 Netherlands
Coffeeshops since 1976In ainneoin coffeeshops, tá úsáid cannabas san Ísiltír faoi bhun mheán an AE. Léiríonn an tsamhail: ní chiallaíonn caoinfhulaingt úsáid níos airde go huathoibríoch.
The Model:
- "Gedoogbeleid" – Tolerance policy for cannabis
- Licensed coffeeshops may sell up to 5g
- Strict rules: No advertising, no minors, no hard drugs
- Separation of cannabis and other drug markets
* Use rates according to EUDA vary by survey methodology.
Foinsí: EUDA Netherlands Report
Sweden
Repression instead of RegulationTá an tSualainn ag leanúint ceann de na cúrsaí cois is déine san Eoraip in aghaidh coireachta drong faoi láthair: níos mó póilíní, pionóis níos déine, díbirtí níos tapúla. Mar sin féin, fanann foréigean drong, coireacht drugaí agus earcaíocht mionaoiseach ag leibhéil arda. Léiríonn an tír cad a tharlaíonn nuair a roghnaítear cois seachas rialáil.
The Current Strategy:
- Harshest penalties, faster deportations of allegedly criminal foreigners
- New laws against gang membership and "socially harmful behavior"
- More police, surveillance, repression policy
- Political narrative: Migration = Crime
What Sweden Shows:
Ní réitíonn "buille níos láidre" na cúiseanna bunúsacha. Chomh fada agus a fhanann an margadh drugaí mídhleathach, tá corrlaigh bhrabúis ard go leor ionas go n-íocann gach riosca as. Leanann dronga ag earcú, bogann an foréigean, maireann an fhadhb. Déileálann rialáil leis na cúiseanna struchtúracha: substaintí rialaithe, slabhraí soláthair dlíthiúla, baint foinsí ioncaim ó chairtéil. Léiríonn bóthar na Sualainne: gan fís pholaitiúil do rialáil, bagairt i gcónaí an mantra "níos déine, níos tapúla, díbir" – beartas a throid comharthaí gan an galar a leigheas.
🇨🇦 Canada
Cannabis Legalization since 2018Canada was the first G7 country to fully legalize cannabis. The model shows how a regulated market can be built – with lessons for other countries.
The Model:
- Federal legalization with provincial implementation
- Licensed producers and retail outlets
- Strict quality controls and packaging regulations
- Age limit 18-19 (depending on province)
* Based on Statistics Canada and Health Canada reports.
Foinsí: Health Canada, Statistics Canada
What the literature shows
Based on BMG/ECaLe report 2023, CMAJ 2023, Lancet Public Health 2025, National Academies 2023.
Research scope
Bibliometric analyses count >10,000 cannabis studies and dozens of reviews on regulation, advertising, health, transport.
Use patterns
Adult use rises modestly, youth use remains broadly stable. Retail density, pricing and prevention are decisive.
Health & safety
ER visits increase with edibles/high potency products; traffic data are mixed. Governance (THC caps, testing) reduces risk.
Key Statistics
Estimated annual revenue of the illegal drug market in the EU
Foinse: Europol EU Drug Markets Report
Drug deaths per million population in Portugal (EU average: ~22)
Foinse: EUDA Portugal Country Report
Scientific Studies
Peer-reviewed research and official reports on drug policy
Johns Hopkins-Lancet Commission
Drug Policy and Public Health: Comprehensive analysis by leading scientists. Recommends regulated markets instead of prohibition.
View Study →EUDA – European Drug Report
Annual report from the EU Drugs Agency with current data on all EU countries.
View Report →Transform Drug Policy Foundation
Leading think tank for drug reform with extensive resources on regulation models and evidence.
View Publications →Drug Policy Alliance
US organization with extensive research on reform successes in various states.
View Resources →Further Resources
Expert networks and analysis for evidence-based drug policy.