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My conclusion is that this is probably as good as it gets given the amount we're spending and the number of laws in place. I don't think the public will tolerate an increase in either, since I think we're at a level of diminishing returns.

Any future reduction, IMO, will come from a reduction in demand due to social (peer) pressure, parental involvement, continued drug education, and an improved economy.

I'd be interested in any study which compared drug use in the states that legalized medical marijuana vs. those that didn't. Also, those that have decriminalized vs. those that didn't.

"Any future reduction, IMO, will come from a reduction in demand due to social (peer) pressure, parental involvement, continued drug education, and an improved economy."

I agree with you here. But would add that also good drug treatment programs and involvement in drug court type program will also further reduce use of the more addictive drugs as will time. In time, as a drug like methamphetamine permeates an area, people start to see that it really is a bad drug. That drug in particular is just eating up small towns like my own. I think that people are starting to learn a hard lesson about it here. Use is still probably still on the rise, but as people watch people they know becoming addicted and falling apart on it more and more decide to steer clear of it.

I see so many in my office who really want to quit using it. I had a guy in my office today who broke down and cried about what that drug has cost him over the past couple of years. He's not even charged with a meth crime but he wants me to get him into drug treatment. The best I can do for him is try to get him into drug court. He's been offered a suspended sentence but he would rather go the drug court route because he knows he won't quit without the counseling, the support network, and of course the frequent drug tests which tend to keep people honest.

Believe it or not, so many of these people want to do the right thing. They aren't all as evil as people often tend to paint them. I wish people that seem to have such malice toward drug addicts and people who just fool around with drugs could know some of these people like I do and see that most of them are just everyday average people who don't mean any harm but who got involved with something stupid.