Drug trafficking breeds massive crime, which does more damage than addiction itself. The cure lies not where the drugs are produced but in consumer countries, mainly in the West. We are losing this war, and Richard Clutterbuck examines four radical alternatives: suppression, severe enough to work without infringing civil liberties; decriminalization, Dutch style; wider licensing of drugs under government control; and licensed legalization, controlling drugs as we control alcohol. He urges debate, research and experiment to decide the best way.
