Sweden

Abstract

The case of national drug policy development in Sweden provides an example of the more restrictive paradigm of drug policy in operation within the European Union. The ultimate goal is the attainment of a drug-free society and zero tolerance measures, against drug use and drug users as well as drug trafficking and drug traffickers, are employed to achieve this end. A detailed examination of the historical context of drug policy development in this country charts the increasing commitment to a national war on drugs and deals with the evidence suggesting that, in recent times, Swedish national drug policy may be becoming less restrictive as the principles of harm reduction gain more ground.