Illegality of drugs results in riskier behaviours (ie. hiding that you're using, using alone) that result in higher chances of overdose. Decriminalization is th

Illegality of drugs results in riskier behaviours (ie. hiding that you're using, using alone) that result in higher chances of overdose. Decriminalization is thought to yield safer use of drugs that will reduce deaths. There is also a broader issue of stigma. If the illegal stigma around drug use goes away, and addictions are treated more like a medical issue, it is thought that it will be more normalized for drug users to get help instead of shying away. On the opposite side there is also a stigma around medical professionals helping "addicts" that are breaking the law and many doctors are reluctant to touch these sort of health issues with a 10 foot pole. Decriminalization could help do away with this problem and pave the way to prescription of a safe supply of drugs. Drug users having a prescribed safe supply of drugs is the ultimate solution to the core problem here of a utterly toxic drug supply.