Sweden has one of the most restrictive drug policies in the world. Photo: Johnér

Despite a reputation for having rather liberal tendencies, Sweden has one of the most restrictive drug policies in the world.  It is not only illegal to be in possession of a controlled substance, but it is against the law to be under the influence of any illicit drug.  And in 1993, the police were given the power to impose urine or blood tests on individuals suspected of being under the influence.

This no-nonsense Swedish model is driven by a policy of zero-tolerance and is guided by a vision of a drug-free society. The strategy focuses on targeting the user—a supply and demand philosophy that suggests that customers at the bottom of the pyramid form the base for the dealers at the top. Remove that bottom layer—and the pyramid comes crashing down.

What a long, strange trip it’s been

In the 1960s, the Swedish government’s drug policy was much more liberal than it is now, focusing on harm reduction rather than restriction. Stockholm was not immune to the widespread trends toward individual freedom and mind-altering experimentation taking place at the time.

As cannabis, opiates, LSD and amphetamines became more popular in Sweden, the government saw the need to examine the potential hazards and take steps towards establishing a policy that would combat growing drug issues. After a period of fact-finding and hypothesizing, the seeds for the new, restrictive national policy were planted. Shortly thereafter, the roots of the current, so-called ‘Swedish model’ began to take hold.

Agreeing to disagree

While the majority of the Swedish people support the current drug policy, the debate over its acceptability is indeed alive. Sonja Wallbom, President of RFHL, the National Association for Aid to Drug Abusers, and vocal critic of the current policy, says: “The debate on the issue did die down for a number of years, but it is starting to pick up again, which is great. Our society benefits when we use what we see around us and make our policies accordingly. The real danger occurs when debate disappears.”

Per Johansson and Sonja Wallbom agree to disagree. The main debate about drugs in Sweden revolves around how to reduce drug abuse and dependency, with both sides sharing a common goal — a drug-free society. Photo: private

Per Johansson, Secretary General of RNS, the Swedish National Association for a Drug-free Society, is a staunch supporter of the current stance, but also values the need for open debate on the subject. “We essentially invented the zero-tolerance policy back in the 1970s, so we’re obviously in favor of it,” he says. “But we think it’s great that we have a debate about the issue. Without debate, a policy is no good—you should always criticize in order to make things better.”
The two sides not only agree to disagree, they also essentially share the same goal: to reduce drug abuse and dependency in Sweden. But that’s where the hand-holding stops. How to go about reaching that goal is where the discussion gets heated.

Valuable visions

Johansson believes that heading towards a drug-free society with a zero-tolerance policy is the way to go. “Let’s say human beings are predisposed to become addicted,” he suggests. “Well, that’s not reason enough to stop us from having a vision that involves zero-tolerance. If we strive towards that vision, we are sure to come pretty close. We might not ever reach it, but it’s a great thing to have as a goal.”

Wallbom disagrees. “Even if there is a consensus towards a vision of a drug-free society,” she says, “the problem starts when that vision becomes more important than the people who are suffering from addiction.  It’s illegal to be a drug addict, to have drugs in your system. So society looks at people on drugs as criminals—not as people in need of help.”

Björn Johnsson, Ph.D., is a lecturer at Malmö University, whose academic interests include drug policy and politics. He sees the value in a zero-tolerance vision, but is quick to point out its limitations. “I believe that zero-tolerance is a realistic approach, but only when used metaphorically,” he says.  “Many people see a completely drug-free society as an actual goal, something attainable—but that’s virtually impossible.”

Restriction versus harm reduction

The difference in opinion regarding the methodology basically revolves around two conflicting angles: restriction versus harm reduction. The Swedish policy focuses on eradication of deviant, criminal behavior as exhibited by the drug addict. A combination of active police and social work is at the heart of the policy. This effectively criminalizes the drug and the user, in hopes of forcing a healthier, sober life upon the addict.

Wallbom, however, finds this approach unacceptable. “Punishment for drug addiction is very harsh—it’s the wrong way to go. The message you send to addicts by criminalizing drug use is one that frightens them away from seeking treatment or from calling for an ambulance when an overdose occurs. People’s lives are at stake.”

Johansson holds fast to the restrictive ideal. “There needs to be some harshness involved, some force,” he says. “RNS founder Nils Bejerot used to say, ‘Voluntary treatment is about as intelligent as voluntary prison.’ You just don’t quit unless you are forced to do so.”


Recreational drugs can be found on more places than dimly lit city streets. In Sweden, the approach has been to criminalize both possession and being under the influence. Photo: Mårten Leo/Image Bank Sweden

And the debate goes on…

Johnsson hopes that the two sides will be able to meet midway. “I think the direction that the Swedish policy is going is on track,” he says, “but do feel that a compromise needs to be reached between a restrictive policy and a harm-reducing one.”

It is worth pointing out that when it comes to its standings against other European countries, the number of lifetime addicts and regular drug users is lower in Sweden than in the rest of Europe. Do these figures owe gratitude to the current policy or to other underlying factors? It’s a hot question that is sure to be topic of debate for some time to come.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

What are your views on the Swedish drug policy? Feel free to comment below.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The author alone is responsible for the opinions expressed in this article.

Classification: A249EN

Anders Porter

Anders Porter is a freelance writer and journalist from California. He lives in Grythyttan, Sweden, about 250 km (155 miles) west of Stockholm. Raised by Catholic nuns at a monastery in an isolated, remote part of Scotland, Anders had to look up the word “drug” in the dictionary before he could begin writing this article.