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So let me understand this. Russia becomes more like America, and their drug problem stops? MORE wealthy, with more social programs and benefits...and they don't use heroin anymore? Oh. Did this work here? I agree that demand is at the root of it-what is in people's hearts- just like gun crime here....it doesn't shoot by itself...but if one can buy the stuff easily, and it's totally uncontrolled...then, short of chaining them into churches...all you can really do is pinch the supply. No? I am not supporting a police state by any means, and know that the firearm issue is more essential to maintaining freedom and democracy, but hey, this is drugs, deadly ones, that make people into dying, theiving vampires. Get the stuff away from them, and let 'em sweat it out. Then use your socialization skills and programs to address their internal problems. The ones ramaining out there finding other drugs, somehow, can be identified by their burned fingers, from soaking their cigarettes in gasoline. They are worse off, and you probably won't keep them from their graves anyway. At least it isn't part of an industry.

The point I am making is that hard drug use is going to be more rampant in situations where living in a country is such a bleak existance, people turn to escape valves. Russia is NOT a fun place to live in right now, no matter how people might try to soften that fact.

I never said they would stop using heroin. I said that helping them to HELP THEMSELVES, so that they can improve their lot in life with probably help REDUCE heroin usage.

It's very tempting to think you can cut off the supply, and think that will fix everything..but there's very little to support that it actually works. It's like trying to play a game of Wack-a-Mole that never ends. You cut off one supplier, two more pop up. As long as a criminal black market exists, with hyperinflated profits, spurred by a demand group that seriously wants to escape their bleak situation...you'll always have this problem.

Frankly, I think the drugs should be legalized anyhow. It's obvious that the War on Drugs has created a black market that has been VERY BENEFICIAL to the terrorists....The Taliban rammed us both ways...making money off the opium trade, then accepting $40 million american tax dollars when they pretended to stop selling opium.