DRUG LEGALIZATION, HARM REDUCTION, AND DRUG POLICY

The current U.S. policy options on drug use are reviewed in the contex t of the history of drug policy in the United States. A restrictive dr ug policy is a deterrent to drug use and helps reduce drug-related cos ts and societal problems. Although legalization or decriminalization o f drugs might reduce some of the legal consequences of drug use, incre ased drug use would result in harmful consequences.