Sweden and Australia drug comparison

The Swedish government has announced a new tougher approach to drugs including -

  1. A policy goal of an entirely drug free society.
  2. Swedish Health Minister, Engqvist wants to mobilize people's wrath against drug abuse that will take away all glamour around narcotic drugs.
  3. A new anti drug czar will be appointed with his or her own independent staff.
  4. The new anti drug czar will not be a political appointment.
  5. The new anti drug czar will concentrate on fighting drug abuse.
  6. The new anti drug czar will represent the official Swedish view of a restrictive drug policy and will be able to work internationally.
  7. Sweden has a restrictive drug policy that is supported by all political parties.
  8. In Sweden, illegal drug usage (i.e. used in last 12 months) reduced to only 2% in 1997 according to the World Drug Report.
  9. According to the same World Drug Report, in 1997, 33% of Australians had used illegal drugs in the past 12 months.
  10. Sweden uses its courts to divert drug users into detoxification and rehabilitation programs that are designed to get them drug free permanently.

(Source: Hassela Nordic Network on www.hnnsweden.com)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

We need a restrictive drug policy that will get drug usage rates down to the low Swedish level.

THE DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS-

More detoxification & rehabilitation that gets illicit drug users drug free.
Court ordered and supervised detoxification & rehabilitation.
Less illicit drug users, drug pushers and drug related crimes.

MARIJUANA FACT SHEET 7