What kind of problems are there with the current policy on drug offenders?

One central problem is that the current policy towards
drug offenders does not focus on rehabilitation.

Drug
addiction is a medical and chemical issue.  It is not something that can be punished
away.  If we really want to reduce the amount of drug use in the United States, the best
way is to get people off drugs.  The best way to do that is through anti-addiction
programs.  Putting a person in prison is not a way to help them get off
drugs.

In addition, attempting to reduce the supply of
drugs is not effective.  It would make more sense to try to reduce demand for drugs. 
Our current policy of trying to prevent supply is clearly not
working.

I do not believe that we can ever completely get
rid of drug problems and drug offenders.  However, I think that our current policy is
flawed and ineffective because it focuses on punishing (rather than helping) users and
on trying to reduce the supply of drugs rather than the demand for
them.