Least bad solutions to the "drugs problem"

FRANÇAIS :
Analyse des difficultés posées pour l'Australie face à l'usage de drogues. Les prohibitions échouent, une législation discriminatoire entrainerait une mauvaise compréhension du message auprès des jeunes. Il faut réexaminer certains mythes tels que : "société sans drogue, puissance démoniaque, l'usager est une victime"... La politique doit limiter les dommages et réduire le mal sans se bercer d'illusions comme l'abstinence générale. Des solutions alternatives sont proposées.
ENGLISH :
This paper examines the current difficulties being faced in Australia by policy-makers attempting to regulate the non-medical use of illegal drugs, and it is suggested that the difficulties centre upon two aspects. First, existing prohibitions are unsuccessful, with use levels rising and, in some arenas (e. g. cocaine use in the USA), quite out of control. On the other hand, a move towards descriminalization or legalization is difficult because past propaganda has been so vehement that a change now apparently risks sending the wrong messages to young people. The exploration of what this least bad solution mitht be begins with the examination of the prominent myths (such as "the drug-free society", "the evil pusher", "the user as victim" and "the young people as cultural dope") that hinder our reasoning. Secondly, by suggesting that, in a climate of increasing crime related to drugs, inability of prohibitions to control that use and escalating health risks attendant on use (including the AIDS problem), the central policy thrust must be harm reduction and damage minimization rather than illusory goals such as widespread abstinence. The paper concludes with a discussion of some relevant evidence on alternative options. (Extract from author's abstract)