The way to combat substance abuse is to deal with the root issues that are causing the pain in the person’s life that they are trying to numb or escape.
I worked on a drug/alcohol ward at Veteran’s Hospital and had a career in the military chaplaincy, my last 6 years in a counseling role.
I think the issue with alcohol abuse is addiction and the inability to kick that addiction.
There is a significant body of literature that points to an addiction to marijuana. More important is the mental issues associated with marijuana use in my opinion.
Nonetheless, in BOTH there is inebriation that ruins normal reflexes during the inebriated period of time. Making laws to prohibit driving under the influence makes perfect sense to me.
Most of the people I know who get high, get high because they enjoy getting high. It’s not to quell pain, it’s to get pleasure.