Reading through this thread, it's stunning how shallow the discussion is about addiction and drug use. People suggesting that tent cities are the result of drug use, rather than part of the cause (and no, that's not to say people without a good home become drug addicts, that thinking is on the same level, the problem is deeper).

The economy is failing, we've past peak everything, inequality is terrible, there are more candidates for doing drugs overall, so there are more drug users. As things get worse and worse, which they will, there will be even more addicts, because life has literally nothing else to offer them to make them feel good.

For all we know, this regulation in Portugal could be doing even better than it was, say, 8 years ago, it's just that society has gotten worse at supporting its population and as a result there are so many more potential drug users. Most people aren't required for the economy to function, and it's less and less each year.

People who always said that drugs are bad mmmkay, I think they aren't happy with sensible legislation, because it makes them look stupid, so they are the first to come up with weak strawman arguments as soon as some data point turns in their favour.