Violations of drug trafficking laws carry heavy sentences although possession of any kind of hard or soft drugs no longer constitutes a prisonable offence. Portuguese police , though relatively easy-going, carry guns and are not to be argued with.

For minor health complaints people generally go to a farmA?cia ( pharmacy ), which you'll find in almost any village; in larger towns there's usually one where English is spoken. They are normally open Mon-Fri 9am-1pm & 3-7pm, Sat 9am-1pm. A sign at each one will show the nearest 24hr pharmacy on duty . Pharmacists are highly trained and can dispense many drugs without a prescription. In the case of serious illness, you can get the address of an English-speaking doctor from a consular office or, with luck, from the local police or tourist office.