Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.....

Ever since the Nixon Era and his war on drugs, the same president who was part of the Watergate Scandal, the US has demonized all drugs while peddling alcohol and tobacco which have led to more deaths in the US than any other single factor and they are still selling them to this day knowing how dangerous and addictive they are and even with all the research that backs that up all they do is slap warning labels on them. Since watching a TedTalk about how portugal decriminalized all drugs and that they saw an immediate reduction in deaths by 50%, and portugal's efforts have been going on for nearly 20 years now so if you look into how well it's going now, let's see what perplexity can tell us about how well it has been going for the people of portugal. I asked it for only the unbiased facts for the past 20 years.... need I say more?

Portugal’s Drug Decriminalization: 20 Years of Outcomes

Portugal decriminalized the personal possession of all drugs in 2001, shifting from a criminal justice approach to a health-centered policy. Here are the key, unbiased facts about the results over the past two decades:

Drug Use Trends

Lifetime prevalence rates for several drugs (cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, ecstasy, LSD) increased between 2001 and 2007, especially among young adults (15-34)1.
However, overall rates of drug use in Portugal have remained consistently below the European average since decriminalization26.
Among the most at-risk group (ages 15–24), recent and current drug use declined after the reform5.

Drug-Related Deaths

Drug-induced deaths fell sharply after decriminalization, from 369 in 1999 to 152 in 200313.
Deaths rose again to 314 in 2007, but remained below pre-reform peaks and have stayed well below the EU average in subsequent years1 23.
By 2016, annual overdose deaths were reported at just 30, a dramatic reduction from the late 1990s3.

HIV and Infectious Diseases

HIV diagnoses linked to injecting drug use plummeted by over 90%, from 907 new cases in 2000 to 18 in 201734.
Portugal went from accounting for more than 50% of EU HIV cases related to injecting drug use to just 1.7%2.

Criminal Justice and Social Impact

The proportion of prisoners sentenced for drug offenses fell from over 40% to about 15%23.
The number of people incarcerated for drug offenses dropped from 3,863 in 1999 to 1,140 in 20173.
Social costs associated with drug use fell by 12% between 2000 and 2004, and by 18% by 2010, due to fewer deaths and reduced criminal justice expenses2.

Treatment and Harm Reduction

The number of heroin users dropped from around 100,000 before decriminalization to about 25,0004.
Needle and syringe programs expanded, with Portugal distributing among the highest number of syringes per capita in the EU2.
Drug treatment access was expanded and improved, with a focus on voluntary treatment rather than compulsory measures2 34.

Policy Context and Limitations

Drug use and deaths did see some upticks in the second decade, but these remained low compared to pre-reform levels and the EU average2.
Some critics note stagnation in harm reduction investment and challenges with new synthetic drugs2.
Decriminalization did not legalize drugs; possession remains an administrative offense, not a criminal one23.

Summary Table: Key Indicators Before and After Decriminalization

Indicator	Late 1990s/2000	Most Recent Data (2016–2017)
Annual overdose deaths	369 (1999)	30 (2016)
HIV cases from injection	907 (2000)	18 (2017)
Prisoners for drug offenses	3,863 (1999)	1,140 (2017)
Heroin users	~100,000	~25,000

Conclusion

Portugal’s decriminalization of all drugs has led to:

Substantially reduced drug-related deaths and HIV infections.
Lower incarceration rates for drug offenses.
Drug use rates remaining below the EU average, especially among youth.
Improved access to treatment and harm reduction services.

While some indicators (like drug use among certain age groups) rose in the early years, the overall impact has been a significant public health improvement and a reduction in social costs, with no evidence of a major increase in problematic drug use2 3 47.

Citations:

Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share

Nixon used the war against drugs to incarcerate so many people in minority's and used fear mongering to make even marijuana seem like it was a dangerous drug and made people act crazy but we know that's not true the main effect it has is on people's short term memory.

Key Accomplishments and Outcomes of Nixon’s War on Drugs

Creation of Federal Agencies and Policies

Nixon declared drug abuse “public enemy number one” in 1971, marking the official start of the War on Drugs3 25.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was established in 1973 to consolidate federal drug control efforts and enforce controlled substances laws nationally and internationally32.
The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 was passed, creating drug schedules and regulating drugs based on their risk of addiction5.

Increased Funding and Law Enforcement

Federal funding for drug-control agencies and drug treatment increased significantly during Nixon’s administration32.
New enforcement agencies, such as the Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement (ODALE), were established and conducted thousands of drug arrests nationwide2.
Drug use, especially heroin among Vietnam War veterans, was targeted as a criminal issue, leading to stricter enforcement and penalties5.

Shift Toward Criminalization

Nixon’s policies shifted the focus from drug treatment to criminalization, with proposals for mandatory minimum sentences for drug possession and distribution5.
Drug offenses became a major focus of law enforcement, contributing to a rise in incarceration rates for drug-related crimes36.

Long-Term Social and Legal Impacts

The War on Drugs led to a dramatic increase in incarceration, especially among Black and Brown communities. The U.S. prison population grew from 300,000 to 2.3 million, with half of federal prisoners incarcerated for drug offenses and two-thirds of those being people of color63.
Disproportionate enforcement and sentencing for drug offenses against minorities became a defining characteristic of the policy’s legacy63.
The Shafer Commission, appointed by Nixon, recommended decriminalizing marijuana for personal use, but its findings were ignored2.

Financial Costs

The U.S. has spent over a trillion dollars on the War on Drugs since its inception4.

Summary Table: Nixon’s War on Drugs – Major Outcomes

Accomplishment/Outcome	Description
Creation of DEA	Centralized federal drug law enforcement agency established in 19732 3
Increased Funding	Significant rise in federal drug-control and treatment budgets3 2
Criminalization of Drug Use	Shift from treatment to punitive measures, including mandatory minimum sentences5 3
Mass Incarceration	Large increase in prison population, disproportionately affecting minorities6 3
Ignored Decriminalization Advice	Shafer Commission’s recommendation to decriminalize marijuana was not implemented2
High Financial Cost	Over $1 trillion spent on drug enforcement and related efforts4

Unbiased Facts

Nixon’s War on Drugs created lasting federal infrastructure for drug enforcement and set the stage for harsher criminal penalties and mass incarceration in the U.S.2 36.
The policy disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities, contributing to racial disparities in arrests and sentencing63.
Despite massive spending and enforcement efforts, the War on Drugs has not eradicated drug use or trafficking47.
Recommendations for more lenient or treatment-based approaches were largely ignored by the Nixon administration25.

These outcomes are directly supported by historical records and contemporary analysis, reflecting the factual legacy of Nixon’s War on Drugs.

Citations:

Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share

I can remember winning an art contest in the 3rd grade for my drawing for the "Just say no" anti-drug campaign and I got 10$ for winning 1st prize. I even remember what I drew and could likely recreate the drawing because it was good due to my use of shadows and it was only in pencil. I also played piano and even did a recital where I did March of the Dominoes and Mrs. Hardgraves was my piano teacher, that song was very difficult to do and took much practice to be able to do it without a mistake. So if anyone wants to question my memory of events, the only one's that might be foggy was when I was addicted to opiates for 10 years but since overcoming that with suboxone, I have taken some on a few occasions but have always been able to stop easily, not having a craving or the need for more. My will power and persistence I attribute to the aunt that taught me my abc's with hooked on phonics as a child. She and my other aunt were the only one's I said happy mother's day to because they are the only one's who care about their own children's happiness so that is an example of a positive affirmation or validation for them because they have overcame or are in the process of overcoming things in their lives.

Here's a link to the answer I got when I asked if our president is

Gaslighting the Nation, the answer might suprise you!

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