Without a doubt...tobacco and alcohol have a devestating effect on society...esp alcohol which attacks on all fronts...road accidents...social and domestic violence...and health. The damage is not only measured in dollars. Tobacco devestates on a lesser front...generally it's a victimless 'crime'...the user dies...though this can effect their family and loved ones. Alcohol takes many victims...particularly road accidents caused by DUI drivers killing innocent road users...casualties at alcohol fueled venues(seems glassing and one punch deaths are the latest fad)...domestic violence...it seems the drunk survives and those around them cop it!
I believe tobacco has made the most progress...passive smoking removed by banning indoor smoking...even outdoor smoking(imo, reaching pathetic levels)...and people are more wiling to quit smoking than drinking. Alcohol has lost its way...the message seems to be to drink to get excessively drunk.
Other drugs have an impact on a lesser degree. Alcohol and tobacco are in their own class because they are legal and no prescription is necessary. They also provide vast taxes and duties to the governments. Campaigns against alcohol and tobacco fail, imo, because all they can do is to try and convince people to give up, seek help or use them in moderation...but the psychological dependence is greater than the physical.
