The “war on drugs” in the US and similar restrictive drug policies worldwide have resulted in mass incarcerations for nonviolent drug offenses and an immense black market for illicit substances that further contributes to crime, violence, and corruption across the globe. And yet the demand for illegal drugs hasn’t waned but increased, and greater numbers of drug users are dying from overdoses than ever before. At this crossroad in understanding how drug policy should be constructed, many advocates have emerged to suggest an approach grounded in both science and compassion, changing the conversation about how to address the issue of illicit substances and the people who use them.
