Differences between subjects with socially integrated drug use: a study in Italy and Portugal

ABSTRACT

Background: Italian and Portuguese drug policies are similar – demand reduction – but the law seems to be applied quite differently: Italian law pays particular attention to decreasing substance use, while the Portuguese legal framework focuses on health-related issues rather than legal aspects.

Methods: To describe national differences in terms of phenomenology of substances use, feared/unwanted consequences and most common rules to avoid harms, 44 Italian and 44 Portuguese drug users who have never been referred to specialist treatment services and had recently used an illegal substance over the previous year on a weekly basis were interviewed. A questionnaire was used, with different scales.

Results: All participants are afraid of suffering from psychological disorders and physical problems, of having money-related problems and of being stigmatized as a consequence of drug use. The Portuguese individuals mostly fear opiate overdoses, while the Italians fear having problems with the law and being caught in possession of the substance.

Conclusions: We observe a different way of perceiving and applying the drug legislation that determines particular attitudes and precaution among drug users at the national level.

KEYWORDS:

• Socially integrated drug use
• drug policy
• Italy
• Portugal
• harm reduction
• consumption rules

Highlights

1. Italian and Portuguese drug policies are similar – demand reduction – but the law seems to be applied quite differently: Italian law pays particular attention to decreasing substances use, while the Portuguese legal framework focuses on health-related issues rather than legal aspects

2. To describe national differences in terms of phenomenology of substances use, feared/unwanted consequences and most common rules to avoid harms, 44 Italian and 44 Portuguese who have never been referred to specialised treatment services and had recently used an illegal substance over the previous year on a weekly basis were interviewed.

3. All participants are afraid of suffering from psychological disorders and physical problems, of having money-related problems and of being stigmatised as a consequence of drug use. The Portuguese individuals mostly fear opiate overdoses, while the Italians fear having problems with the law and being caught in possession of the substance.

4. Although the main goals of Italian and Portuguese drug policy are similar – demand reduction – the law seems to be applied quite differently. In fact, while the Italian law pays particular attention to decreasing substance use, the Portuguese legal framework focuses on health-related issues rather than legal aspects. On the other hand, the possession of illicit psychoactive substances for personal use has been decriminalised in both countries.

5. The differences between the Italians and the Portuguese might be partially justified by the fact that, in Italy, the application of penalties has a security-related character (suspension of drivers’ and gun carrying licenses and residence permits), despite the similar goals of both countries’ drug policies. Hence, it is quite different from the Portuguese legislation, which favours therapeutic and rehabilitation actions and prevents the application of penalties by the police forces.

6. Another element to consider is drug dealing, which seems to be common and frequent among all subjects with socially integrated drug use - regardless of the country they belong to. Many recreational users participate in both sides of drug transactions, and it is difficult to make a clear distinction between sellers and buyers.

Disclosure of potential conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.