Instead of being viewed from a medical perspective, the drug problem in the United States has been addressed with the "prohibition model," which is based in the belief that drug use is immoral, extremely harmful to both users and others, and that it should be eliminated. Hence, government policy is designed to prohibit citizens from possessing, using, or trafficking in drugs. This is done by criminalizing these behaviors. The United States has sought throughout this century, but especially during the 1980s, to extend this prohibition model into the international arena. The aim has been to expand the scope of United States law to cover actions undertaken and persons residing in other nations or on the high seas. The United States' international tactics have included broadening the sphere of law enforcement activity and authority by permitting domestic law enforcement agents to operate abroad and by enlisting the armed forces in domestic and foreign drug enforcement actions. It has also attempted to tailor international law to fit the prohibition model. For as long as the prohibition model has been the guiding principle for addressing the drug problem, the problem has increased. An alternative and less costly policy would be to focus on reducing the harms caused by the problem users while permitting other, nonproblematic uses. Government policy regarding drug use and marketing should focus on regulatory activities, such as taxes, the licensing of users, and time- place-manner restrictions on use and sale. 4 notes