Access to a methadone programme without "criminalisation" is already the norm. It is dealing in heroin that is generally pursued by the criminal justice system.
Perhaps so. But there is the world of difference between reactions to an unexplained death and popularly held views on the use of drugs which are classified as anti-social/illegal. That may be hypocritical but it is not unnatural.
it will be interesting to see if an inquest has a view...