title: Drug legalization, harm reduction, and drug policy.
abstract: The current U.S. policy options on drug use are reviewed in the context of the history of drug policy in the United States. A restrictive drug policy is a deterrent to drug use and helps reduce drug-related costs and societal problems. Although legalization or decriminalization of drugs might reduce some of the legal consequences of drug use, increased drug use would result in harmful consequences.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., Washington, D.C., USA.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: DuPont
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Voth
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D011640:Public Policy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology