Drug Abuse Treatment

Illicit drug use has had profound economic and cultural effects on American society, contributing to sharp increases in the crime rate, accelerating the spread of AIDS, and diverting some minority groups from the economic mainstream. The primary response of government agencies has been increased effort to reduce crime rates by preventing the spread of drug use to uninitiated populations and interdicting the flow of drugs into the United States.1–3 Such approaches have been both costly and limited in effect, however,4 and alternatives, especially reducing demand for drugs by treating drug addicts, are increasingly promoted. A growing body of evidence indicates that demand reduction efforts directed toward those seriously involved represents a far more cost-effective method for reducing drug use, the user’s criminal activities, and the resulting burden on society.5–11