The author maintains that the war on drugs is being lost because policymakers and the public fail to understand the complexities of the situation, the factors underlying youths' drug use, and the measures needed to combat drug addiction. The major focus of the book is on the family; the American family has to overcome abuse, alcoholism, and divorce, and return to stability, structure, and love. The true victims of societal disintegration are the children, who have a bleak present and see an even bleaker future. The drug problem correlates to the pleasure principle inherent in today's society. The author argues that the national drug policy is failing because it has no focus, overriding plan, or philosophy. Rounding up minority offenders who are mainly the users and victims of drugs will not solve the problem. This book uses numerous case studies to examine issues of crime and violence in order to offer suggestions to law enforcement officials, parents, community leaders, and the media on how to reverse the trend toward increasing drug use and drug-related crime and violence.