You raised a good question.
First, why are people doing drugs? I'd say the main reason is cause they're curious. I claim that the majority of people who did drugs did it by curiousity. Nothing of a problem. Marihuana is the most consumed illegal drug I'd say. Some use it once and let go, some use it once in a while and some regularly. The minority is really addicted and can't let go, maybe even suffering mental and health problems.
The second reason is, and that's the ones using drugs regularly, cause they got problems in general. May it be mental or financial or social problems. People without problems in general are not tending to getting addicted to drugs.
Coming from this argumentation: if you wanna pretend people from taking drugs, you have to solve their problems or help them solve them or secure them of getting problems.
People that do drugs time to time and are integrated in society with no major personal issues are no problem at all. Live and let live.
Legalization of drugs would have several benefits:
1. People who wanna do drugs would know they're clean
2. Less people would get addicted cause in many cases the additions in drugs make people addicted
3. Crime rate would massively go down
4. The state earns more money (tax)
5. More jobs would be created (tax, unemployment)
6. Kids probably won't come in contact with hard drugs ("Here's your weed, and I have a special today, know this white powder?")
7. Education would be more easy (You wanna buy it first time, you have to read this, make this theoretical test, just my idea)
8. Criminals globally would lose A LOT OF MONEY!!! (meaning power)
9. Police would have more time hunting the REAL criminals!
Please don't tell me: "But what about my kids? They can just walk into a store and buy heroine!"
Wrong. If all drugs would be legal they have to know someone buying it for them. Like with alcohol.
Besides that: if someone (of any age) wants to do drugs, he/she will do drugs. Simple as that. And I have never heard of a drug kid saying "My first drug was heroine, then I tried cigarettes."
The first drugs are cigarettes and alcohol. And the most deadly ones. I think it's not cynical to say these are weapons of mass destruction. So, legalization of Marihuana? Yes. Combined with more education in school and a Reggae class.
Legalization of other (harder) drugs? Yes. Combined with even more education and hard regulations.
Politicians (people in power) aren't in power to tell us what we don't have to do. They are in power to do what we want them to do.
And I, as an individual, wanna do what I wanna do as long as I don't hurt nobody except myself. That is my right.
And please don't tell me "But you are a financial burden to society!" (eventual health problems).
If this is your argument, then I say: "Total ban of sports of any kind."