International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

International Day Against Drug AbuseAs a member state of the United Nations, Portugal actively participates in international counter-narcotics projects. The headquarters of the European Observatory on Drugs and Drug Addiction is located in Portugal.

June 26 is a landmark day for making state decisions on this issue. On this day in 1999, Portugal announced the adoption of a national programme for the prevention of drug abuse in prisons.

Among the measures taken to combat drug abuse is a law passed in 2000 that treats it as a disease rather than a crime, guarantees access to public treatment and facilitates their reintegration into society.

However, for drug addicts who refuse treatment, the law provides for an administrative fine. Drug trafficking in Portugal continues to be a serious criminal offence.