Swedes get tough on alcohol and drugs

Press, 11 February 1981, Page 18

Swedes get tough on alcohol and drugs

By

CHRIS MOSEY

in Stockholm

Sweden is planning tougher measures to tackle the grow- / ing rate of alcoholism and drug addiction in the country. A proposal, to be put before the Minister of Health • ■ and Social Affairs this month, will call for the compulsory cure of alcoholics and drug addicts. ' The proposal, which comes after 13 years of agonising, will then go to Parliament - and, -if approved, could be- • •'.come law on January 1, 1982. ’ The proposal allows for two • months’ compulsory treatment for adult alcoholics and i addicts, and a further two 5 „ months’ 5 ? treatment if /■■■ ‘necessary. ' ■ Alcoholics and addicts would be treated against . their will if found to be “in pressing need,” or if their physical or mental health ■was ; endangered by. their habit A broad consensus of political- opinion,, from the; Communists to the Conserva-

tives, supports the proposal. At the same time as the proposal was made public, the Stockholm Police Chief, Mr Hans Holmer. called for improved measures to fight the country’s drug problem. The . measures include the right to use concealed microphones, tap telephones and investigate private bank transactions. Holmer made his proposals in a ’ book written during a ’ year’s leave of absence in. which he studied drug problems in the Netherlands and West Germany. “We can’t just wait and see any more,” said the police chief. “There . is ' no ideal solution ‘ just around the comer. A lot of. uncomfortable decisions need to be. taken now.” Sweden has always been sensitive about its alcohol ■ problem, but the huge influx • ' of "heroin into the country'■ in •■' ,the u - mid-1970s caught the-; nation unaware. •"

A rash of reports and proposals together with a nationwide poster campaign showing young drug addicts being carried away dead on stretchers has troubled many Swedes.

Moves .towards legalising marijuana have been strongly resisted, following the rapid increase of-, hashish smoking among teenagers since the mid-19605. One poster, displaying an uncharacteristic degree;, of black humour, shows a teenager behind bars: /‘Hash takes you to places you've never been before.” A survey ..Carried out by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs showed that Sweden, with a population of 8.5 million, had as many as 10,000 to 14,000 hard-drugs users. Of these, between 3000 and .4500 were?in. the/?. Stockholm area. Copyright/ London. Oeserver Service.'’ -m-k-,