Addiction. Lancet.Published January 6, 2012. Executive summary: A three-part Series assesses the global public-health toll and policy implications of drug addiction. The first paper summarises data for the prevalence and consequences of problem use of amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, and opioids. In high-income countries, illicit drug use contributes less to the burden of disease than tobacco, but a substantial proportion of that burden is due to alcohol. Intelligent policy responses to drug problems need better prevalence data for different types of illicit drug use and the harms that their use causes globally. 

This need is especially urgent in high-income countries with substantial rates of illicit drug use and in low-income and middle-income countries close to illicit drug production areas. The second paper reviews existing drug policies and highlights the need for greater reliance on scientific evidence-based policy making. The final paper examines the value of international drug conventions in protecting public health.
Series Papers

• Extent of illicit drug use and dependence, and their contribution to the global burden of disease. Louisa Degenhardt, Wayne Hall

• Drug policy and the public good: evidence for effective interventions.John Strang, Thomas Babor, Jonathan Caulkins, Benedikt Fischer, David Foxcroft, Keith Humphreys

• How well do international drug conventions protect public health? Robin Room, Peter Reuter