The American Medical Association (AMA) Takes a Stand: Drug Decriminalization is the Way to Go
The AMA, a leading organization in the medical field, has made a bold move in support of drug decriminalization. During their annual House of Delegates meeting in Chicago, Illinois, MD/PhD candidate Ryan Englander spoke out in favor of this decision, stating that the current approach to the war on drugs is not working. He compared it to the saying, “The beatings will continue until morale improves.”
The AMA’s previous stance was to monitor the effects of state and federal policies on drug possession for personal use. However, during the recent meeting, delegates voted 345-171 to adopt a new position that seeks the elimination of criminal penalties for drug possession for personal use. This update reflects the association’s belief that a different approach is needed to address the substance use crisis in the country.
Englander pointed to the success of Portugal, where decriminalization has led to a decrease in mortality and an increase in treatment access. He also acknowledged that the recent recriminalization of hard drugs in Oregon was not as effective. “There are models that we can use that can work,” he explained.
While there were some delegates who opposed the endorsement of decriminalization, citing a lack of evidence, others argued that when done correctly, it can have public health benefits. Stephen Taylor, a speaker from the American Society of Addiction Medicine, suggested sending the issue to a reference committee for further discussion.
However, not everyone was convinced. AMA president-elect Bobby Mukkamala pointed to the Oregon experience, where decriminalization did not lead to a reduction in mortality or an increase in treatment access. He stated that the board does not believe it is wise to support policies without robust evidence.
Marianne Parshley, a delegate from the American College of Physicians, also raised concerns about the rise in fentanyl use and associated deaths in Oregon after the decriminalization law was passed in 2020. She suggested that recriminalization may be a way to garner bipartisan support for more funding and improvements in the system.
