@TechReport{iza:izadps:dp10895,
            	author={Félix, Sónia and Portugal, Pedro and Tavares, Ana},
            	title={Going after the Addiction, Not the Addicted: The Impact of Drug Decriminalization in Portugal},
            	year={2017},
	month={Jul},
            	institution={Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)},
            	address={Bonn},
            	type={IZA Discussion Paper},
            	number={10895},
            	url={https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp10895},
	abstract={This paper investigates the impact of drug decriminalization in Portugal using the Synthetic Control Method. The applied econometric methodology compares Portuguese drug-related variables with the ones extracted from a convex combination of similar European countries. The results suggest that a policy change implemented in Portugal contributed to a decrease in the number of heroine and cocaine seizures, a decrease in the number of offenses and drug-related deaths, and a decrease in the number of clients entering treatment. Moreover, the policy change contributed to a reduction in the incidence of drug addicts among HIV individuals.},
	keywords={drug decriminalization policy;illicit drugs;synthetic control method},
            }