I would argue that in a lot of cases, people become victims due to the current laws and societal standards surrounding drug use.
The illegality of (for example) heroin drives:
* uncertainty of quality/content of drugs purchased --> higher risk of harm/overdose from use
* often, reliance on crime to fund --> financial and/or criminal impact on families/friends, and/or wider society
* social exclusion of users --> emotional impact on families/friends
If heroin was legal, regulated, freely/cheaply available, and then became no more socially unacceptable than (for example) alcohol or cannabis, then most of the current 'victims' would cease to be victims any longer.
The illegality of (for example) heroin drives: * uncertainty of quality/content of drugs purchased --> higher risk of harm/overdose from use * often, reliance on crime to fund --> financial and/or criminal impact on families/friends, and/or wider society * social exclusion of users --> emotional impact on families/friends
If heroin was legal, regulated, freely/cheaply available, and then became no more socially unacceptable than (for example) alcohol or cannabis, then most of the current 'victims' would cease to be victims any longer.