Supported by: Maurice Corry*, Peter Chapman*, Alison Harris*, Michelle Ballantyne*, Alexander Stewart*, Gordon Lindhurst*, Miles Briggs*, Jeremy Balfour*, Tom Mason*, Liz Smith*, Murdo Fraser*, Jamie Halcro Johnston*, Bill Bowman* *S5M-12396 Neil Findlay: Portugal's Approach to Addressing Record Drug Deaths That the — s change in drugs policy since Parliament recognises what it sees as the effectiveness of Portugal’ 2001, when it decriminalised the possession of all drugs for personal use as a major part of its fight against overdose deaths, HIV infection and drug-related crime; commends its decision to treat possession and the use of small quantities of drugs as a public health concern rather than a criminal matter; understands that, rather than being arrested, people who are caught with a personal supply are given a warning, a small fine or have to appear before a local commission to discuss treatment, harm reduction and support services; believes that, since this policy was introduced, HIV infection rates have fallen from an all-time high in 2000 of 104.2 new cases per million to 4.2 new cases per million in 2015, and that the adult death rate has fallen to three per Thursday 24 May 2018 10 Today's Business Future Business Motions & Questions Legislation Other Gnothaichean an-diugh Gnothaichean ri teachd Gluasadan agus Ceistean Reachdas Eile Motions | Gluasadan million, compared with approximately 78 per million in 2001; understands that the Portuguese policy rests on three pillars, firstly, that there is no such thing as a "soft" or "hard" drug, only healthy and unhealthy relationships with drugs, secondly, that having unhealthy relationships with drugs often conceals users having frayed relationships with loved ones, themselves and the wider world and thirdly, that the eradication of all drugs is an impossible goal, and notes the view that it is essential to learn from this approach in Lothian and across Scotland to effectively address the reported record levels of drugs deaths, which saw 867 users across the country die...