Casual drug use must be distinguished from problematic drug use; a small proportion of those who use illicit drugs develop drug dependence. An estimated 1 percent of people ages 18-35 in England and Wales are drug addicts whose use is undoubtedly closely linked to crime. The precise causal sequence is unknown, but it is clear that a large proportion of drug addicts finance their drug use through crime. Crimes include benefits fraud, drug dealing, shoplifting, burglary, other theft, and prostitution. Data from the United States and England indicate that low-level drug law enforcement can disrupt drug markets and deter casual drug users, but not addicts. Thus, drug law enforcement is at best half a solution and at worst can worsen the problems it is intended to address. However, last year's report of the Task Force To Review Services for Drug Misusers concluded that treatment that includes both social support and clinical interventions can be notably effective in reducing drug-related crime. The research also indicates that involuntary treatment is as effective as voluntary treatment and suggests the specific elements of an effective treatment strategy. The criminal justice system is potentially pivotal in addressing drug abuse by providing a conduit for treatment for those who need help but have failed to seek it. Therefore, the criminal justice system and treatment services need to establish close linkages. The prison service has made great progress in providing inmate drug treatment, but the need for pre-release and post-release services and the pressure for cost savings could impede this progress.