The federal government spends billions fighting drugs, yet illegal drug use remains high. Critics say the answer to the drug problem is not more law enforcement but policies that focus on reducing the harm that results from both drug use and the efforts to stop it. But drug-policy officials charge that most “harm reduction” proposals are little more than veiled attempts to legalize dangerous substances. They say a better approach is the growing system of drug courts, which require addicted drug offenders to undergo treatment. Meanwhile, states are taking innovative approaches to the drug problem. Voters in several states have approved initiatives allowing the medical use of marijuana, and a proposal to divert some drug offenders from prison to treatment programs will be on this fall's ballot in California.

Mary H. Cooper specializes in environmental, energy and defense issues. Before joining CQ Researcher as a staff writer in 1983, she was a reporter and Washington correspondent for the Rome daily newspaper l'Unita. She is the author of The Business of Drugs (CQ Press, 1990). She also is a contract translator-interpreter for the U.S. State Department. Cooper graduated from Hollins College in English.