“Habituated drug abuse is a behavior well known to be vastly more difficult to stop than merely not being a criminal.”
Not from what I have seen and read. Once a person becomes a career criminal, it is very difficult for them to stop. Recidivism is very high. They have to change their who world view.
Criminal behavior is often driven by a need to feed an addiction. Were drugs to be decriminalized, the cost of what are now illegal drugs would plummet, and crime would accordingly decline.
The present Criminal Justice System would shrink and all would benefit - except the unions and other trough feeders making a very good living as overpaid Criminal Justice System employees.