Without removing the high profits within the drug industry, criminal law, social pressure, therapy and information remain ineffective. Legalizing certain drugs would lead to an unacceptable increase in consumption. The strictly controlled issuing of heroin, given by state authorities exclusively to people already addicted to drugs, will withdraw the most profitable clients from the criminal suppliers and force criminal business to exit the market in the long run. Programs suggested by the German national drug conference would provide: (1) sports, media, responsible adults, and psychological school services to change the preferences of the young; (2) street work for heavily addicted persons; (3) stationary help in crisis situations; (4) protected housing; (5) full-day nonstationary help; (6) advice for AIDS-infected addicts; (7) substitution therapy for a small number of addicts; and (8) financial assistance for self-help groups. The author discusses these aspects of the program, sets forth his reasons for opposing other suggested remedies for the drug problem, and describes a working concept of drug market destruction. Endnotes