>Actually we do. There are hopeless groups, who do not have much hope of getting off hard drugs (like heroine). If you give them the opportunity to use alternative drugs (like methadon) they don't have to get their shot because else they litterly are doing anything to get their shot (Do you know what happens if they don't get it ?) By ensuring that they get a replacement drug (or sometimes the real thing), they less often fall into crimes like robbery, pick pocketing, etc. For a little money you can control a small group of addicts and preventing a lot off crimes in a more effective way. ...

I have often wondered about this. I had heard that this policy in the Netherlands (of legalizing certain drugs) is actually quite effective. I would like to know, by what other measures is this legalization accompanied? For example, are there large campaigns to educate the public about the effects of different drugs? Do you know of any other measures to fight against the problems of addiction?