There is evidence that the criminalization of drugs has restrained and stabilized if not reduced the abuse of the targeted substances. This has been done through supply constraints and risks that have raised the sale price of drugs, which in turn deters consumption. The risk of legal sanctions also has some deterrent effect. The proponents of drug legalization argue that alcohol causes more social and health harm than the illicit drugs, so there is no rationale for discriminately outlawing the drugs. This argument, however, can be used to support the continued criminalization of banned substances. It is precisely because the substances are proscribed by law that their social and health effects are less than those of alcohol. Also, preventive education would lose much of its force if drugs did not have the negative connotation of being illegal. Those who would legalize drugs argue that the taxes on illegal drugs could be used to provide expanded treatment for drug addicts. There is no evidence, however, that drug treatment has been particularly effective on a large scale. Just as alcoholism is resistant to treatment, so is drug addiction. Overall, the legalization of drugs risks losing the benefits of criminalization and increasing drug use and its attendant social and health costs.