I spent last week immersed in the working environment of the Commission for the Dissuasion from Drug Abuse for the Aveiro district. I am immensely grateful to Dr. Sofia Almeida, President of the Commission, and to the whole team for their amazingly helpful attitude, enthusiasm and availability to help with my research. I couldn't have felt any more welcome. Sofia, Gabriela, Paula, Antonio and Elsa put themselves to my disposal to answer my numerous questions and even postponed their holidays to be there for my visit. The whole of the team has been in place since the law that decriminalised drug use was introduced in 2001, so they have an impressive amount of experience and knowledge that I have been able to draw on. I have now four full days of recorded interviews to listen to, transcribe (with the help of a translator! My understanding of Portuguese is coming along but it is in no way up to the task of a proper translation, alas) and reflect on.