Prevention of drugs consumption and/or abuse paradigms and goverment policy in Chile

Abstract

The prevention of illicit psicoactive substances consumption and/or abuse models are summarized, comparing their effectiveness, from a sanitary viewpoint. The Chilean case is used as an example, and a brief historical review covering the last twenty years is shown. The political meanings of those policies is analized. It is concluded that harm reduction is the best model, because it considers the ethical and health aspects inherent in human nature.