Complete Schedule
Presentation Type
Open Access Poster Presentation
Abstract
Portugal's approach to combat substance use disorder has been a commonly discussed public health strategy over the last decade because it challenges the idea that punishing the drug user detours the drug issue. In 2001, the country decided to decriminalize substance use disorder and change addiction services to be under the Ministry of Health. The approach that Portugal is using in its research looks very different from places like the U.S., who over-medicate and then criminalizes drug users. Portugal, instead, steers individuals to local groups comprising of psychologists, social workers, and health professionals who work with them to find the support they need. These results have encouraged researchers and policymakers to begin to take a closer look at what happens when a country begins to treat addiction as a health issue rather than a crime. Portugal's experience demonstrates that a health-focused strategy, incorporating harm-reduction principles such as needle and syringe exchange programs and opioid agonist treatment, can mitigate harm and facilitate community recovery. Therefore this project aims to evaluate the harm reduction approach of Portugal and recommend the implementation of these policies within the United States.
Start Date
14-4-2026 11:00 AM
End Date
14-4-2026 11:50 AM
Faculty Advisor
Itunu Ilesanmi
Faculty Advisor
Matthew Vasquez
Department
Department of Social Work
Student Type
Undergraduate Student
Copyright
©2026 Kenna Hall-Hoyt, Sarah Denin, and Shelby Jenkins
File Format
application/pdf
File Size
580 KB
Recommended Citation
Hall-Hoyt, Kenna; Denin, Sarah; and Jenkins, Shelby, "From Punishment to Public Health: Rethinking Addiction in the U.S and Portugal" (2026). INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference. 69.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/csbsresearchconf/2026/all/69
From Punishment to Public Health: Rethinking Addiction in the U.S and Portugal
Portugal's approach to combat substance use disorder has been a commonly discussed public health strategy over the last decade because it challenges the idea that punishing the drug user detours the drug issue. In 2001, the country decided to decriminalize substance use disorder and change addiction services to be under the Ministry of Health. The approach that Portugal is using in its research looks very different from places like the U.S., who over-medicate and then criminalizes drug users. Portugal, instead, steers individuals to local groups comprising of psychologists, social workers, and health professionals who work with them to find the support they need. These results have encouraged researchers and policymakers to begin to take a closer look at what happens when a country begins to treat addiction as a health issue rather than a crime. Portugal's experience demonstrates that a health-focused strategy, incorporating harm-reduction principles such as needle and syringe exchange programs and opioid agonist treatment, can mitigate harm and facilitate community recovery. Therefore this project aims to evaluate the harm reduction approach of Portugal and recommend the implementation of these policies within the United States.
