The Pontifical Council for the Family was questioned on the matter by families and numerous teachers and institutions that work with young people. After consulting experts from many countries and the heads of various therapeutic communities, this dicastery published the following reflections in Italian on January 17, 1997.
Drug dependence is a phenomenon that is spreading.
It poses serious psychological, social, spiritual and moral problems. Children and adolescents trivialize the use of drugs even at school in the sight of their powerless teachers. It is the very future of our society that is threatened by drug abuse. Others say it would be better to know and assist drug addicts rather than leave them in a state of illegality, in order to help them and to protect society. These are the arguments advanced in favour of legalizing drugs.