People say we can't stop drugs and use America as an example. The American government is not trying, though. You can't stop alcohol, because I could make some at home. I made hard, pineapple liquor once without even trying. I just didn't have access to some pineapples in a friend's fridge for 2 weeks. She was in the hospital this whole time. Things that require plant growth are easier to stop than alcohol. Although, marijuana might be difficult since it grows so easily. Actually, the real problem with drug addition is a sort of long-term brain hijacking that takes place. Even if they get past withdrawal or don't manage to take in enough to have a steady addiction, these people have periods where their minds get taken over and feel strongly compelled to acquire and take the drug they crave. A lot of this state of mind is rooted in abuse and dysfunction coming from their pasts. So in addition to fixing all of that stuff, they also need to break the cycle of addiction by staying clean for awhile. The same neurological mechanisms behind drug addiction apply to all repetitive behavior problems. So if these people can't be drug addicts, they will end up switching to something else such as compulsive eating, abusing others, thoughts of suicide, hardcore pornography, etc. Whatever they can get access to.