The following pages are only published in english.
(c) The Swedish National Institute for Public Health 1998:2I
Preface
Sweden has a restrictive policy on drugs. The foundation of our drug
policy is a close interaction between information and opinion formation, local prevention,
control policy and treatment of drug abusers.
The drug policy operated in Sweden is strongly supported by Swedish
public opinion, above all because it is relatively successful. Strong emphasis on
prevention, coupled with a general welfare policy, has very probably helped to keep
experimental drug abuse down to a relatively low level, despite an increase during the
1990s. First-time recruitment of young persons for heavy drug abuse has also been limited
for many years now.
In 1993 the National Institute of Public Health published Drug
Policy -The Swedish Experience (1995:4), describing Swedish drug policy and its evolution.
In preparation for the United Nations General Assembly's
Special Session (UNGASS) on drugs in June 1998, I have commissioned
the Institute to prepare this shorter, concise description of Swedish drug policy. The
description, which has been produced in co-operation with the Ministry of Health and
Social Affairs, also includes observations on developments in recent years. The purpose is
to communicate Sweden's policy on drugs to interested persons in other countries.
Margot Wallström
Minister of Health and Social Affairs
Please follow link "A
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