Personal Illicit Drug use in Australia Requires the Implementation of a Decriminalisation Law Essay - Law Assignment Help

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To improve the criminal justice system and help lift some of the on-going burdens of personal illicit drug use in Australia requires the implementation of a decriminalisation law. Decriminalising illicit drugs would mean that manufacturing and selling drugs will remain an offence; However, individuals in possession of or using drugs will face non-criminal related offence such as penalty fines or diversion proposing education treatment. While Australian politicians debate updating the current drug laws which remain ineffective, countries like Portuguese have successfully incorporated decriminalisation and illustrate positive influences on the justice system (Hughes & Stevens, 2010). Finalising personal illicit drug decriminalisation will target reducing mental and physical health in relation to drug-related illness for all individuals effected by drug use. Government finances will benefit as decriminalisation targets deduction in misused government resource for instance money spent on the criminal justice system and imprisonment. Overall, improving a safer, brighter future for both past drug abusers and for those citizens who obey by the law. Decriminalisation of illicit drugs of personal use in Australia will benefit the country by improving mental and physical health, improve government justice system and improve life quality for the present and future generations minus the foreshadowing social stigma accompanied by drug use.
Decriminalisation of illicit drugs in Australia will help priorities and implement strategies to reduce deteriorating mental and physical health problems due to illicit drugs (Hawkes, 2011).
According to Hughes & Stevens (2010) they use graphs to show how the Portuguese’s mortality, HIV, HCV and TB rates experienced a significant reduction after the decriminalisation of illicit drugs. This evidence suggests that decriminalising the use of illicit drugs will allow people to open up about their contact with such narcotics without the fear of being punished alternately scarifying their health. This new system will aim to target health treatments for that both mental and physical issues. Physically eliminating the fear accompanied with seeking help will encourage more users to come forward and be assisted. Mentally this will help individuals move on and move closer to recovery. HIV is among many diseases that is spread via drug use and focusing on reducing embarrassment in relation to seeking help will initially persuade more people to reach out. Therefore, reducing the spread of current and future diseases in the community which is supported by Hughes and Stevens data analysis. Hawkes (2011) argues that between 1999 and 2002 Portuguese recorded drug-related deaths declined after the introduction of the new drug system in comparison to Spain. Declining in drug-death rates suggest the new drug strategy to focus more towards treatment is proving to be beneficial. Research has proven drugs can cause death whether its due to a physical complication as an effect of toxic intake or either death via mental health like suicide. Drugs have been proven to negatively affect mental health and when mental health is deteriorating leaves room for more emotional issues like depression which can lead to suicide. Decriminalising drugs allows users to feel not so alone when seeking health as others find the same strength to ask for help as well before it’s too late. Furthermore, people start to interact with each other about their struggles and from there people can work to create more programs and support for both users and people affected by someone who is under the influence. Records show that from all available types of treatment including inpatient, outpatient and prescribed all demonstrate to be used by an older age group with 23% of patients around 34 years and has increased by 46% (Hughes & Stevens, 2010). This suggest that patients who have come forward asking for treatment are of an older age group then stereotypically suggested. Furthermore, leads to believe that after the new drug laws that individuals who have been struggling for years finally feel comfortable seeking support and this reveals that the new system is proving to support individuals which as contributed to more harm reduction services. Decriminalising illicit drugs for personal use will elegiacally work to create a healthier community both physically and mentally as those who need it most find support and assistance during rough times.
Decriminalisation will benefit government finance as it works to eliminate wasting resources creating a potential for new investments and benefit the justice system (Felix & Portugal, 2017).After decriminalisation finalised in Portugal there was a reduction in the amount of drug relates arrests and court cases from 14,000 to roughly 5,500 a year (Hughes et al., 2018). With the numbers of drug related arrests and court cases reducing allows the government to dedicate more time to other important issues working to resolve more issues in the community. Hughes & Stevens (2010) signify that the Portuguese experienced a steady rise in efficiency within court operations due to the decrease in drug offenders crowing the system and facilities. Crowd reduction minimises the chance of needing to postpone other cases and allows the justice system to solve more trials more efficiently. Statistics demonstrate that drug users have reduced and heroin users prior to prison has deducted from 44% to 30% and heroin usage in prison has also dropped from 27% to 13%. The same can be said about HIV amongst prisoners. These results also indicate that police officers would have more time to dedicate elsewhere as they are mort burdened by drug related arrests and punishments (Hughes & Stevens, 2010). This significantly suggesting that prisons now have more room availably to admit other offenders/inmates and help save money as it costs taxpayers and the government for prisoners to be held in cells. Statistics also address that the reduction of diseases transmission suggest a decrease in desire or devotion to drug use which can be an effect of effective treatment. Indicated by research illustrates that decriminalisation of illicit drugs have help government spending as it reduces the money that’s needed to spend on imprisonments, police and courts and allows that money to be spent on other programs like risk management and treatment facilities.
New future opportunities arise as the social stigma and drug use consequences alter improving quality of life for the generations to come and for the generation now in the heat of the drug debate (Hughes & Stevens, 2010). Felix & Portugal (2017) explains how the new law enforced by other countries around the globe has spiked an increase in drug users to come forward uptalking treatment. Increasing the population in treatment suggests that individuals have broken down the stigma and idea that receiving treatment doesn’t mean there is ‘something wrong with you’ and that you are ‘ill’. It simply suggests that more people are willing to help themselves grow and move on with their life in health direction. Countries like Portugal have adapted to the decimalisation system to emphasise treatment and risk management treatments as an alternative to prosecution or conviction (Mostyn et al., 2012). Enforcing treatment rather than prosecution sets a path towards a brighter further for users as they are not haunted by a record against their name that affects employment and mental health. Treatment always individuals to break the stigma of worthless drug users and gives them a fighting chance to replenish and start again with the support they require. According to Hawkes (2011) avoiding criminal conviction improved employment as well as relationship success and availability creating a brighter future. Furthermore, suggesting that this new law system will improve social outcomes. To elaborate avoiding a criminal record provides more future potential in all areas of life including schooling, employment, relationships and dealing with social judgments. An alternate break through with Australia enforcing decriminalisation of illicit drugs would be the positive outcome in the community breaking social stigmas and stereotypes. Therefore, giving citizens the courage to seek help for drugs taking advantage of the system for the greater good like we have seen in countries like Portugal.
 

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