The key to success is to prevent the problem, the success of treatment is rather limited although treatment must be a part of a balanced policy.
Misuse of illicit drugs is normally initiated in close friendship relations at a relatively early stage of the drug ”career”. Therefore it must be a top priority to work with early intervention for a drug policy to be successful in order to limit the spread of misuse of illicit drugs.
The strength of the international drug control system is its universality.
But drug policies are too important to be left to drug experts and to governments alone. It is a society-wide responsibility that requires society-wide engagement.
- This means working with children, starting from parents and teachers, to ensure that they develop self-esteem.
- This means supporting family-based programmes because prevention begins at home.
- This means advocacy.
As non-governmental organizations we can play a crucial and a very important role in this matter.
The future of an improved drug policy is not to legalize intoxicating, abusable drugs, including marijuana.
It is in the development of a balanced, restrictive drug policy that prevents drug use, and that intervenes with drugs users to provide them with a path to life-long recovery.
Instead of legalizing drugs, an enlightened drug policy can harness the criminal justice system to thwart drug markets, facilitate entry into treatment and restrict incarceration to egregious offenders.
The criminal law against illegal drug use is a major public health strategy to reduce drug abuse and the many health, safety and productivity losses imposed by drug abuse.
These are the elements of a successful drug policy. This drug policy makes clear that drug use is unacceptable. Läs mer: