I had the privilege of speaking recently at a conference in Lisbon focused on harm reduction and homelessness. It was both enlightening and inspiring. As we seek solutions to reduce drug-related deaths in the UK and to improve our approach to individuals facing drug dependence and homelessness, Portugal’s experience provides invaluable lessons.
In England and Wales, approximately three million adults aged between 16 to 59 use drugs. In 2021, nearly 5,000 individuals died from drug poisoning,
