To serious addicts, having drugs legalized but 'controlled' with taxes and 'drug'stores, would not help....the amount they could buy would be limited, and many serious addicts do not work and could not afford the amount they want. (much as drugworker said above)

And before anyone says "what about booze"?...note that heroin & cocaine are supplied in a very different way, thru foreign markets, and that addiction TO heroin and other poppy derivatives has quite different effects on the body and mind. Depriving an alcoholic of booze is just not as 'hard' as trying to take a heroin addict off HIS drug.

It ain't easy.... the only real 'solutions' are pretty Draconian and not politically correct.