The United States has defined drug abuse as a moral flaw and the addicted person's actions as illegal. The declaration of war has not helped solve the problem, however. A fundamental reassessment of our Federal policies and approach is essential. A public health approach would be beneficial because it would rely on clear definitions and epidemiological data and would place responsibility on all community members to protect themselves and each other. It would also place emphasis on how an individual can avoid the disease, raise resistance to the disease, and treat the disease. Until we abandon the terminology and approaches of war, we will experience little progress in the healing and restoring needed to solve the problems of drug abuse. We must recognize that the central feature of the addicted person's dilemma is an attempt to deal with personal loneliness, alienation, and depression. The motivation and effort needed to rejoin the community will not come when every message from society proclaims the addict's status as enemy.