Historique
Article de Périodique
The Swedish drug policy experience: past to present (2011)
Auteur(s) :
JOHANSSON, P.
Année
2011
Page(s) :
6 p.
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Refs biblio. :
9
Domaine :
Drogues illicites / Illicit drugs
Discipline :
SAN (Santé publique / Public health)
Thésaurus géographique
SUEDE
Thésaurus mots-clés
POLITIQUE
;
EVOLUTION
;
LEGISLATION
;
HISTOIRE
;
PRODUIT ILLICITE
;
CONSOMMATION
Résumé :
Sweden has a unique history when it comes to drug policy. It was one of the first countries in Western Europe to be afflicted by the modern drug epidemic. Initially Sweden dealt with the problem in a permissive manner, which included a period of legal prescription of drugs between 1965 and 1967.
The turn-around in drug policy was initiated by the Stockholm-based psychiatrist Nils Bejerot, who analyzed the situation and proposed an alternative drug policy. Gradually the drug laws were tightened so there wasn’t any legal free-zone for possessing or consuming illicit drugs. However, the legal consequences are relatively mild.
The results of Sweden's balanced and restrictive policy are that Swedish youth use illicit drugs at a very low level in a European context. Sweden has shown that it is possible to combine a modern welfare state with effective methods to prevent non-medical drug use.
Affiliation :
National Association for a Drug-Free Society (RNS), Sweden