Henrik Tham, responding to our op-ed article on drug policy in Portugal, not to mention a lot of the things we showed there. He argued that decriminalization would have a positive outcome of the high level of drug-related mortality in Sweden. The report also indicates that Portugal is on the same level of mortality as a result of the day-that is, before they have decriminalised the drug, and it is also impossible to see any clear correlation between the decriminalization and the reduction of the mortality rate in other european countries which have implemented similar reforms.
Tham argues that the 1,000 police officers could be freed up to work with the others on the Sweden decriminalised the drug. We are very puzzled by this. First of all, put a lot of people who are prosecuted for minor drug-related offences in connection with other crimes. Secondly, the police have in the majority of cases (for example, in Portugal and in the Norwegian regulation) are left on the same mission when it comes to drugs, that is, before the decriminalisation. It is still the police who are acting against the mill, and the small possession of the drug, but the reports going to a different authority than the public prosecutor.
This is the one that will work well and should be maintained, while other areas of policy in need of change.
in Sweden, has been at a low level when it comes to the use of the drug, compared with the average for the EUROPEAN union and in other parts of the world. The main reason is likely to be the society’s normbildning, and the law of interaction. A decriminalization bill is liable to send a wrong signal and might contribute to the use of illicit drugs is increasing.
this is not to say that the current situation is a good thing. Hundreds of people die from drugs each year is not acceptable. We believe that a better functioning of the health care and treatment is one of the keys. Sweden should review how the care is organised in such a way that we will be better able to deal with co-morbidities, to reduce waiting times, to ensure that it really is complemented with psychological treatment, as it was originally intended, and to ensure that the whole of the chain are inter-related.
This should be a future inquiry to look at the differentiated penalties, within the limits of the current legislation. It should be possible to refer to young people and according to the treatment in lieu of fines and criminal records – but it is not to decriminalise the use of drugs of this group.
Our center believes in a humane, restrictive drug policy that balances the action, in order to keep the bottom of the mill, with the generous, caring efforts of those who are in need. Prevention, in the long run, it is the most cost-effective way to deal with public health problems – as far as it will go, we need to make sure that these problems don’t occur from the beginning of the year. This policy is an important tool, while a decriminalization bill likely to have the opposite effect.
the Link to the graphic
