 We are a nation of users.
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As the pharmaceutical juggernaut has worked its way into every age group across Gender , Race and Religious boundaries we have effectively become a Society of addicts.
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The interesting aspect of this is that there are still illegal drugs. From an ethical standpoint there is no basis for making one drug legal and another illegal. This is purely an artifact of politics.
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A drug ( legal or illegal ) is a chemical compound which has positive and negative effects on the user. Society should Not be in the position of determining the acceptable level of positive or negative effects. This should be an individual`s choice.
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If All drugs were legal, there would be less crime:
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<li> users of the formerly illegal drug would cease to be criminals
<li> sellers of the formerly illegal drug would cease to be criminals
<li> prices would drop and availability would increase leading to less crime for the resources necessary to purchase the formerly illegal drug
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There is a false sense of uprightness in our Society with respect to drug usage. If it is legal then we feel Justified in our use of it. If it is illegal, we look down our noses at the users and sellers.
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Abuse is another matter. Society does have a Right to require drug users to act responsibly <b>with respect to their usage as it affects others</b>. This means that users are held Responsible for damages suffered by others as a result of their drug usage. Remember, it is a given that drugs have negative effects on the user. There is no Responsibility of the user toward Society for self-sustained damage. 
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What about the burden on Society for looking after the drug user when the negative effects take their toll? Society has no Responsibility to look after anyone. Charity is a volunteer act.
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Would people injure themselves with drugs? Sure. But that is their Choice .