Considering that virtually every society throughout the history of man has used drugs for recreational purposes and faced problems with addiction, it is somewhat naïve to think that we can legislate an end to drug use, misuse, and addiction.

Recognizing that drug addiction will always be with us, we should therefore focus on reducing its prevalence and in particular, the harm caused by addiction.

Punishing an addict for behaving like he or she has an addiction is bad medicine. Drug addicts need the support and encouragement necessary for recovery like every other kind of patient.

Drug treatment programs that value progress and commitment and which work with addicts towards decreasing use and risky behavior are often successful for drug addicts that can’t quit cold turkey.

Furthermore, cities and states that address drug abuse from a harm reduction approach, those that implement needle exchange programs and overdose prevention efforts, those that allow treatment programs to nurture their patients as humans instead of criminals, often reduce the overall harm associated with drug use and abuse without compromising their ability to reduce drug consumption and drug-related crime.