The emperor has no clothes: The limits of science in dealing with drug problems

This article proposes that, of necessity, the attempt to deal with alcohol and other drug problems within a purely rational, scientific framework and to claim the area as the exclusive domain of health-science professionals has been unsuccessful. It is proposed that human problems such as those associated with drug use must be addressed from many perspectives concurrently, using many models or governing images, and that it is necessary to acknowledge that the scientific and existential approaches are complementary rather than alternative. Drug use must be affirmed as ordinary behaviour and the moral dimension must be added as an equal to the psycho-bio-social dimensions both in theory and practice. A pragmatic approach will protect against a return to destructive moralising