October 15, 1997.

In comparison to many other Western countries, drug use indeed is not as high (in 1996, 8% of the 15 to 16 year old school children admitted to ever having used drugs), but the study shows that this, most likely, is not a result of the applied drug policy. Cultural and social factors, such as the homogenous character of society and the absence of a strong urban culture, seem to have been of greater influence.

Just like in other countries, identical fluctuations in drug use are also observed in Sweden. This is -- why the policy has not been able to prevent -- that just like elsewhere, - drug use in the nineties has increased. In Sweden, this not only applies to cannabis and synthetic drugs, but also to heroin. Nor has the strict Swedish approach led to a decrease in the number of addicts, mainly consisting of intravenous amphetamine users. Estimates suggest that their number increased from 12.000 in 1979 to 17.000 in 1992.
(Ed. note: Sweden has a population of around 8 million.)
See
Comparison of drug addiction levels in various European countries.

As part of the ‘national studies’ series conducted by the Centre for Drug Research (CEDRO), University of Amsterdam, and publications on Germany, France and the United States, research has now also been carried out on the Swedish drug policy. The book The Swedish Drug Control System - An in-depth review and analysis, written by researcher Tim Boekhout van Solinge, provides a thorough analysis of the drug problem and the drug policy in Sweden.

In recent years, the Swedish drug policy has been discussed at great length, particularly since 1995, when Sweden became a member of the European Union and loudly proclaimed the success of its approach on the European scene.

In international discussions on drug policy, the ‘Swedish model’ is often referred to as an example of a restrictive approach to the drug problem leading to good results.
See

The official Swedish drug policy is based on three pillars: prevention, treatment and repressive measures. Since the Swedish Parliament in 1977 declared the drug-free society to the drug policy’s official objective, the policy gradually has become increasingly repressive.

The massive drug information campaigns are, at the most, only partially based on scientific research. The main objective of these campaigns is deterrence.

Therefore, information on drugs is seen in Sweden, which is not found anywhere else, such as the notion that with cannabis use the probability of suicide or violent death increases. The study also deals in depth with the way drug addiction is treated in Sweden and establishes that not all the claims about its effectiveness can be proven.

Basis of the study is, that social systems for drug control can not be understood without a thorough analysis. Apart from describing the history, economy, politics and culture of Sweden, the book extensively deals with different issues such as the policy for alcohol, the scientific basis of the present drug policy, and the different players who have been influential in the policy’s development. In addition, other important aspects are taken into consideration, such as the role of the state plus attitudes and policy with regard to deviance.

But also the practice of the drug policy is discussed in detail. For that, a great deal of research took place ‘behind the scenes’ in the form of visits to underprivileged areas and drug scenes, as well as interviews with users and dealers. Apart from consulting the literature, dozens of persons involved such as policy makers, physicians, social workers, police- and justice officials, scientists and representatives of social movements active in the field, were interviewed.

Notwithstanding the (still) relatively low number of users, opinion polls in Sweden have shown for years that drugs are considered as one of the main threats to society. The study points out, that the increasingly stricter and fear laden drug policy of the eighties and nineties, has to be understood in a context of economic crisis and the declining welfare state. In the climate of decreasing (social) security, ‘drugs’ fulfil an important symbolic function as a scapegoat for the various ‘threats’ to Swedish society.

This might also explain, why in Sweden a climate has developed, in which existing policies are held on to in a dogmatic fashion and a suggestion for change can be sufficient for being accused of irresponsible behaviour or treason.