Use of illicit drugs and, in particular, dependence on drugs are important public
health problems. Drug use harms society by reducing user’s physical and mental
health and productivity, by reducing family and social functioning and by increasing
crime. Illicit drug use contributes to the spread of contagious diseases, including
HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis. Furthermore, illicit drug use
contributes to the disintegration of families and of inner city communities and has
resulted in a huge growth in the prison population, especially of African-American
males (83).
Popular prevention programs such as DARE are ineffective (61). High rates
of incarceration based on drug-related crimes have not had a major impact on
drug use (94, 95). Thus, treatment may be the most powerful means of fighting