What's wrong with substance abuse policy in the United States?

"The United States leads the world in scientific knowledge in many areas but trails in applying that knowledge to social and human realities. One fact demonstrates the imbalance: Americans make up 5 percent of the world's population but 25% of the world's prison population. A main cause of this shocking discrepancy is the antiquated social and legal approach to addiction."

Gabor Mate, M.D.
In The Realm Of The Hungry Ghosts, p. XV