Narcotic drugs

The Swedish drug policy is set forth in three principal objectives:

• to reduce the number of new recruits to drug abuse,
• to encourage more drug abusers to give up the habit, and
• to reduce the supply of drugs.

Work within the Government Offices

Four ministries share the primary responsibility for drug policy: the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Together, officials from these ministries form an independent working group. Its title is The Governments Coordination Body in Drug Related Issues, SAMNARK.

Areas of responsibility

The ministries have different tasks within the field of drugs:

Ministry of Health and Social Affairs

• coordination within the Government Offices
• health issues
• work with prevention
• healthcare and treatment
• legislation on drug control.

Ministry of Justice

• prison and probation services
• criminal legislation
• police work

Ministry of Finance

• customs matters
• legislation on smuggling

Ministry for Foreign Affairs

• foreign policy issues and drug-related development assistance.