> A newly released national survey suggests the percent of adults who have used illicit drugs increased to 12.8 percent in 2022, up from 7.8 in 2001, though still below European averages.
> still below European averages.
Does the data actually support the arguments made in this article?
I hate to say it but.....it sounds like it's still better than the alternative?
I don't see how that is a meaningfull data point. Most of those are likely not addicts so it doesn't affect relatives or society. What does the percentage of addicts look like? Percentage of ODs? Crimes committed by addicts to pay for their drugs? These are more relevant questions to ask imo.
I guess it's a state of mind of "doing something". If you do what Portugal is doing and your numbers are the same than others, it feels natural to think that if you do something things will improve.
Then you do something like criminalize drug users, numbers get worse, but now you can claim is all fault of drug users for doing something illegal. You are doing "something", but they don't cooperate.
> still below European averages.
Does the data actually support the arguments made in this article?
I hate to say it but.....it sounds like it's still better than the alternative?