Drugs: Decriminalization vs Legalization | Professor Harry Sumnall
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Drugs: Decriminalization vs Legalization | Professor Harry Sumnall
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About this listen
Professor Harry Sumnall is a Professor in Substance Use at the Public Health Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, and a member of the UK Government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD).
In this conversation we break down the drug policy terms people constantly confuse — and why that confusion matters in real life.
We cover:
- What decriminalization actually means (and what it doesn’t)
- Decriminalization vs depenalization vs legalization
- Why illegal markets create unique harms (potency, adulteration, organized crime)
- The “continuum” approach: prevention → harm reduction → treatment → recovery
- Why education alone rarely changes behaviour — and what does
- Stigma and dehumanization: how they block help-seeking and worsen outcomes
- Why policy is rarely purely “evidence-based” — values and politics always play a role
If you’ve ever heard someone say “decriminalization = legalization,” this episode will fix that.
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