One response to the failure of the drug war has been to focus on even harsher sentences and more money for jails and prisons. The main reason why incapacitation is unworkable as a strategy against drug offenders is that resources are simply not sufficient to deal with the significant number involved. An estimated 25 percent of inmates are imprisoned on drug offenses, resulting in roughly 300,000 drug offenders in prison at any given point. The costs involved in constructing enough prison beds are prohibitive, plus it is not entirely clear what huge expenditures would accomplish. Although drug legalization may not be the answer, the author believes decriminalizing drug use will reduce and appropriately emphasize the treatment of drug addicts.