I grew up around addicts, including my parents(you effing idiot). Why don't you tell me what facts, education or experience you bring to the table? Better yet...why don't you explain your insights into human nature, then tie that into why, in your opinion, criminilization misses the mark...and how a medical model interacts with said human nature?
You've said that the criminilization model is flawed; that's no great achievement, inasmuch as any process involving humans is flawed. You've also said that medicalizing the issue will address some of those flaws, which is true. Cost, however, is not one of them. If we can't afford what we're doing now, how will we be able to afford exponentially more? That's what it will cost, you know. Treatment per addict will increase past the point it costs to keep an inmate, and the number of addicts seeking treatment will skyrocket.
I've heard it said time and again that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. You seem to be illustrating that...applying simple theory to complex problems.
So your solution, which is the status quo, is perfectly logical and sufficiently complex. However, my idea, which is to decriminalize and offer treatment is simplistic and built on general knowledge. The fact that it would approach the same costs for incarceration may be true. However, you would remove the rest of the criminal element that goes along with the huge artificial profits built into drug dealing and you lower the price to a point where people (desperate addicts) aren't killing for crack money. You are simply more intelligent than me. I give up.