What are the potential benefits of treating drug use as a health issue rather than a criminal one?

Most drug related offenders turn to drugs because of their living situation or other factors of their life. Criminalizing someone for being put in a bad situation is stupid, instead of filling up millions of cells with innocent people who were simply given a bad hand we should be using our resources to help those in need that feel the desire to turn to drug use. Also, unless the drugs in the system of the perpetrator were the reason for any violence or crime then I fail to see the reason to criminalize them. Allow people the freedom to put what they want in their bodies, let stupid people be stupid, because if you don't then you'll start conflict with them, and at that point you're on their level.