I agree with this and there is good evidence to support doing it. In the 1990's Portugal was the heroin capital of the world. When they shifted from a criminal to public health approach the number of heroin users dropped by 75%. Portugal now has the lowest drug-related death rate in Western Europe. The number of HIV diagnoses caused by drug injection dropped by more than 90 percent.

Nobody chooses to have a substance use problem. People struggling with addictions need help, not punishment.

Thank you for writing about this Hogan. It takes guts to share such personal stories. I'm very sorry about your friend's kid. I have two young adult kids and the current drug poisoning crisis makes me worry about their safety.