Drug abuse treatment Deathrates are high among Swedens heroin addicts. There is an effective treatment that often frees the addict from the craving of heroin. But despite the fact that methadone in scientific studies shows good results, politicians hesitate. A lot of experts are critical and demand new rules. A government study shows that methadone is an effective method to help heroin addicts. But today only 650 of the more than 5000 heroin addicts receive methadone. - -It is unacceptable Leif Gr-nbladh, head of the methadone program in Uppsala, says. [continues 526 words]
The Police prioritize minor rather than serious drug offences. This is evident in a new report from the National Council for Crime Prevention (BRA). "The police must be given more funding in the fight against organized drug crimes," says Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Lars Engqvist. The police authorities activity logs show that efforts against minor drug offences, drug use and possession, is given a considerable higher priority than efforts against serious drug crimes. A clear shift in comparison with the 80's, according to Peter Lindstrom, director and researcher at BRA. [continues 398 words]
Tennis ball filled with narcotics and the smallest models of mobile phones are being thrown over the walls of Swedens prisons. This is the latest way for inmates to smuggle ever increasing quantities of drugs into jail. Despite half of all inmates being drug abusers, very little of the drugs smuggled in are seized. The drugs problem is on its way to overpowering the Swedish Prisons authority. In Haga, part of the Hall institute, nine out of ten prisoners are drug abusers. In the Hallby Institute outside Eskilstuna it is estimated that sefven out of ten abuse narcotics. [continues 586 words]
Drug liberal ideas are gaining ground in Europe. But Sweden is seen as a symbol for the resistance against drug liberalism. Consequently the position of the Swedish government on drug issues is followed with great interest by both sides of the debate. The lines of contention in the European narcotics debate are drawn between a liberal and a restrictive view of drug policy. Those who advocate the liberal position maintain that it is impossible to banish narcotics from society and that the most important thing is to reduce harm, for example by suppyling drug abusers with clean needles and hygenic injection rooms. And the drug liberal line has been making progress the last few years. [continues 382 words]
There is a hard battle being fought in the European narcotics debate between the liberal and restrictive positions. Sweden has represented the strongest support for a restrictive policy. Because of this, Justice Minister Thomas Bodstroms position on drug issues is important. Already on his first working day he was forced to back away from a two year old debate article. Minister of Justice Thomas Bodstrom no longer stands by his earlier criticism of the governments narcotics policy. Two years ago he called the criminalisation of drugs meaningless and opportunistic. Now he fully supports it. [continues 408 words]
Indictments for drug possession have increased dramatically at the same time as indictments for drug dealing have halved. This is shown by statistics from the years 1993-1997 that the National Council for Crime Prevention have studied, says radio of Sweden's Ekot. The reason for the increase is believed to be the more stringent punishments for personal use of drugs seven years ago, the same time the police was given increased authority to take a drug test whenever there was a suspicion of a drug crime. [continues 79 words]
