ABSTRACT
The societal impact of substance abuse has been well documented. A recent report published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (1993) cited estimates that placed the cost of illegal drug abuse in the United States at $67 billion. In recent years, reducing the problems associated with drugs has emerged as one of the most visible public policy questions. The primary legal response during this era of heightened concern has been the effort to limit the sale and distribution of problematic drugs. Reducing substance abuse by controlling drug distribution is itself an old idea; throughout the 20th century, governments have sought to limit access to drug supplies.
