The role of demand side work

Undoubtedly reducing the numbers of people buying drugs can reduce the size and perhaps the openness of markets; but they will not close a market completely. For example many markets are frequented by a large number of dependent users who are frequent users; and by  a larger number of persons who attend infrequently, perhaps buying drugs of lesser harm from people selling Class A drugs as well. Action against dependent users will reduce the size of this market and related crime, but not close it. For these reasons a strategy designed solely to impact on dependent users through helping them into treatment is not a full response to the harm drug markets cause.