Portugal offers drug lessons: Greens

The Greens say Australia could learn a lot from Portugal in combating illegal drug addiction - by treating it as a health issue rather than a crime.

The Greens say Australia could learn a lot from Portugal in combating illegal drug addiction. (AAP)

Australia should consider diverting resources used to prosecute illegal drug users into rehabilitation and treatment, the Greens say.

Federal leader Richard Di Natale is on a self-funded study tour in Portugal learning how its government treats illegal drug use as a health issue rather than a criminal justice matter.

Portugal had experienced a remarkable turnaround in crime by changing its policy, he told ABC radio on Monday.