A Values Approach to Addiction: Drug Policy That is Moral Rather Than Moralistic

Efforts in the United States to eradicate drug addiction fail because they are based on a fundamental misconception of the nature of addiction. In contrast, an accurate view of addiction provides strong clues about policies that can reduce its dangers. The most successful antidotes to addiction are pro-social values and behavior. A value-, skill-, and environment-oriented approach to addiction will be more effective than current medical and admonitory approaches to drug abuse. Although a values-skills-environmental approach recognizes that values are crucial in the formation and maintenance of addiction, it is actually less moralistic than approaches that view abstinence from drugs as the only healthy and moral lifestyle.