The discussion provides an overview of addition and crime as well as the attempts to linked drug use to the incidence of crime, with emphasis on contrasts between violence and sex crimes and nonviolent crimes. Tentative conclusions are presented regarding several types of drugs, including alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, opiates, cocaine, marijuana, hallucinogens, and volatile inhalants. The analysis concludes the current drug laws and drug policies have been ineffective and that alternative methods of preventing, controlling, and treating drug abuse and crime should be explored. In addition, several previously discarded methods should be reexamined. In particular, the approaches used in Great Britain and Europe should be considered. 33 references