"Stop smoking joints? Then you deserve a gift". This is the initiative of the Department for Addictions of Local Health Authority 2 of the Treviso area. The objective? To push young people to abandon cannabis.
The "rules" are simple.
Those who sign up for the project are subjected to urinalysis. If you are negative for THC you get a lottery ticket. But it doesn't end here.
The value of gifts increases if you remain negative for 3 months. And in this case you are "rewarded" with vouchers up to 250 euros to spend in physical stores and online.
| Read also: “How to Get Off THC Fast and Pass a Drug Test”
But is it really useful as an initiative?
Prohibition has failed: legalization is the only valid solution
Rather than trying to limit consumption by giving gifts, they should be implemented awareness campaigns that promote responsible use of substances.
Because after the fateful 3 months, no one will stop the kids to go back to smoking joints and deal with the illegal market.
Addiction treatment is a serious issue that cannot be addressed with prohibitionism. But with a targeted approach to protection of public health and harm reduction.
For example, in countries where cannabis is legal Cannabis consumption among young people is not increasing, but tends to decrease.
This is the result of a policy based on understanding instead of punishment, on help and awareness instead of criminalisation.
A model that all states of the world should implement, if they really care about the health of the population.
* Photo by Elsa Olofsson on Unsplash
