scholarly journals A Century of Dissonance and Harmony in Swedish Intoxication Policy

2021 ◽  
pp. 239-265
Author(s):  
Johan Edman
Keyword(s):  
Drug Policy ◽  
Nordic Countries ◽  
Alcohol Policy ◽  
Alcohol Policies ◽  
The Future ◽  
Drug Policies

The traditionally strict alcohol policies of the Nordic countries have all been liberalized. This leads to an increasing policy gap in relation to the drug policies. A prognosis is made about the future of drug policy in Sweden based on the development of alcohol policy – the market will ultimately decide.

scholarly journals Retreat or Entrenchment? Drug Policies in the Nordic Countries at a Crossroads

10.16993/bbo ◽  
2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Welfare State ◽  
Drug Policy ◽  
Criminal Policy ◽  
Nordic Countries ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Gateway Theory ◽  
Drug Policies ◽  
Temperance Movements ◽  
The Individual

The drug policies of the Nordic countries have been relatively strict. Since this seems to contradict the internationally recognized liberal criminal policy in general, analyses have been devoted to try to understand this gap. Why doesn’t the “Scandinavian exceptionalism” apply to the drug policies? The new question in relation to drug policy is, however, if and how the Nordic countries will adapt to a situation when several countries all over the world are questioning ‘the war on drugs’ and orienting themselves in the direction of decriminalization and legalization. An analysis of a possible change in drug policies must be undertaken against the background of the existing policies. There are both similarities and differences between the five countries. A common feature is a stress on the demand side through both treatment and punishments directed against the user and abuser. Differences are shown in degrees of toughness in drug policies with Sweden strongest stressing a zero-tolerance stand and Denmark being the most liberal in the Nordic context. The strong welfare state ideology of all the countries is important for understanding the obstacles to a more liberal and permissive drug policy. The welfare state is an interventionist state. To not do anything about what is considered to be a problem both for the individual and the society is just not an option. In most of the countries the traditions from the temperance movements also have influenced the drug policies through the stepping-stone or gateway theory, not making a distinction between soft and hard drugs. At the same time, a number of facts and processes work in the direction of change. The drug policies of the countries have not delivered, including high numbers of drug-related deaths. The debate has opened up in just a short period of time. Many of the political youth parties demand decriminalisation of use of drugs and so have some public authorities. Human rights arguments are increasingly being put forward as a critique of police interventions. A tendency for politicians to meet the critique seems to be to separate the marginal abuser from the recreational user. The first one should be given treatment and care according to welfare state ideology. The second one, however, could be punished since the user in line with neo-liberal theory can choose and by the use contributes to the drug trade and even the killings in poor suburbs. The Nordic countries stand at a crossroads, but what new roads will be taken is far from clear.

scholarly journals On the biopolitics of humane drug policies: What can we learn from 19th century sobriety boards?

2021 ◽  
pp. 145507252110158
Author(s):  
Kenneth Arctander Johansen ◽  
Michel Vandenbroeck ◽  
Stijn Vandevelde
Keyword(s):  
19Th Century ◽  
Drug Policy ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Chief Executives ◽  
Critical Studies ◽  
Drug Policies ◽  
Drug Dependent ◽  
And Control ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
Drug Policy Reform

Background: In accordance with recommendations from The United Nations’ Chief Executives Board of Coordination, several countries are in the process of reforming their punitive drug policies towards health-based approaches – from punishment to help. The Portuguese model of decriminalisation is generally seen as a good model for other countries and has been scientifically described in favourable terms, and not much scrutinised. Method: This article draws on foucauldian archaeological and genealogical approaches in order to understand and compare governance logics of the 19th century Norwegian sobriety boards and 21st century Portuguese commissions. In doing this, we problematize contemporary drug policy reform discussions that point to the “Portuguese model”, which aims to stop punishing and start helping drug-dependent people, are problematised. Findings: The Portuguese commissions investigate whether drug-using people are dependent or not. Dependency, circumstances of consumption and their economy are considered when the commission decides on penalising, assisting, or treating the person, or a combination of all this. This model was studied alongside the Norwegian sobriety boards mandated by the Sobriety Act that was implemented in 1932. Sobriety boards governed poor alcoholics. Authorities from the sobriety movement were central in creating sobriety policies that culminated in sobriety boards. The Portuguese commissions have similarities to Norwegian sobriety boards. They make use of sanctions and treatment to govern people who use illicit substances to make them abstain, with the view that this is emancipatory for these people. The different apparatuses have distinct and different ways of making up, and governing their subjects. Conclusion: This article contributes to debates on drug policy reforms and aims to investigate whether they might produce biopower effects of governance masked by an emancipatory language. There is a need for critical studies on drug policy reforms to avoid policies that maintain divisions and control marginalised populations.

scholarly journals Barriers and facilitators to adherence to national drug policies on antibiotic prescribing and dispensing in Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fosiul Alam Nizame ◽  
Dewan Muhammad Shoaib ◽  
Emily K. Rousham ◽  
Salma Akter ◽  
Mohammad Aminul Islam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Policy ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Drug Shop ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
National Drug ◽  
National Drug Policy ◽  
Drug Policies ◽  
The Government

Abstract Background The National Drug Policy in Bangladesh prohibits the sale and distribution of antibiotics without prescription from a registered physician. Compliance with this policy is poor; prescribing antibiotics by unqualified practitioners is common and over-the-counter dispensing widespread. In Bangladesh, unqualified practitioners such as drug shop operators are a major source of healthcare for the poor and disadvantaged. This paper reports on policy awareness among drug shop operators and their customers and identifies current dispensing practices, barriers and facilitators to policy adherence. Methods We conducted a qualitative study in rural and urban Bangladesh from June 2019 to August 2020. This included co-design workshops (n = 4) and in-depth interviews (n = 24) with drug shop operators and customers/household members, key informant interviews (n = 12) with key personnel involved in aspects of the antibiotic supply chain including pharmaceutical company representatives, and model drug shop operators; and a group discussion with stakeholders representing key actors in informal market systems namely: representatives from the government, private sector, not-for-profit sector and membership organizations. Results Barriers to policy compliance among drug shop operators included limited knowledge of government drug policies, or the government-led Bangladesh Pharmacy Model Initiative (BPMI), a national guideline piloted to regulate drug sales. Drug shop operators had no clear knowledge of different antibiotic generations, how and for what diseases antibiotics work contributing to inappropriate antibiotic dispensing. Nonetheless, drug shop operators wanted the right to prescribe antibiotics based on having completed related training. Drug shop customers cited poor healthcare facilities and inadequate numbers of attending physician as a barrier to obtaining prescriptions and they described difficulties differentiating between qualified and unqualified providers. Conclusion Awareness of the National Drug Policy and the BPMI was limited among urban and rural drug shop operators. Poor antibiotic prescribing practice is additionally hampered by a shortage of qualified physicians; cultural and economic barriers to accessing qualified physicians, and poor implementation of regulations. Increasing qualified physician access and increasing training and certification of drug shop operators could improve the alignment of practices with national policy.

The Global Drug Policy Index: tracking national drug policies

The Lancet ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 398 (10313) ◽  
pp. 1788-1789
Author(s):  
Jacqui Thornton
Keyword(s):  
Drug Policy ◽  
Index Tracking ◽  
National Drug ◽  
Drug Policies

The Evaluation and Control of Drugs in Norway

1986 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 663-671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjørn Jøldal
Keyword(s):  
Drug Policy ◽  
Health Care Policy ◽  
Drug Distribution ◽  
Medical Care System ◽  
International Policies ◽  
National Drug ◽  
Drug Policies ◽  
Comprehensive Health ◽  
Health Situation ◽  
And Control

The basic aim of a drug policy is to ensure that effective and safe drugs of good quality are available to cover the health needs of a country. A national drug policy should be considered an integral part of any comprehensive health-care policy. The formulation of national drug policies varies even between similar countries because of conflicting interests and different political, economic, and social pressures. It is influenced by such factors as:the health situation of the country;the medical care system;the education and training of health personnel;the social security and health-insurance schemes;drug research and development possibilities;the domestic production of drugs;the determination of the demand for drugs;the system of drug distribution;the possibilities for evaluation and control of drugs; andinternational policies on medicinal products.

Experiences of Slovak University students with on campus alcohol policy

Human Affairs ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferdinand Salonna ◽  
Natália Vendelová ◽  
Jozef Benka ◽  
Mária Bačíková
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
University Students ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Alcohol Policy ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Alcohol Policies ◽  
The Us ◽  
Key Questions

AbstractThe vast majority of studies focusing on alcohol consumption among university students are based on US and Canadian samples and employ a quantitative approach. Universities from the US and Canada also have a longer tradition in implementing alcohol policies. The alcohol policies at universities in Slovakia are mostly non-systematic and often not implemented in practice. The objective of this study was to explore Slovak university students’ experiences towards alcohol policy on their campuses using a qualitative approach. Eight focus group discussions were conducted among university students (n=64; 38 female; 2011; Slovakia). The key questions were (1) “Is there a policy concerning alcohol on your campus and what are the consequences of not complying with it?”, and (2) “How should an on-campus alcohol policy be developed and what should it include?” The students knew of few, if any, rules concerning alcohol. Student participation was considered important in policy development and implementation. Slovak universities should be more active in forming alcohol policies. A preventative policy which actively involves students was emphasized as optimal.

scholarly journals The association of HIV and easy access to narcotics in Pakistan; calling drug policy makers

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tauqeer Hussain Mallhi ◽  
Yusra Habib Khan ◽  
Amjad Khan ◽  
Nasser Hadal Alotaibi ◽  
Abdulaziz Ibrahim Alzarea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Drug Policy ◽  
People Who Inject Drugs ◽  
High Potential ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Prescription Opioids ◽  
Direct Supervision ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Future ◽  
Future Events

AbstractHIV in Pakistan is concentrated to people who inject drugs (PWID) and easy accessibility of narcotics to this population cannot be disregarded as a risk factor of growing encumbrance of AIDS in the country. All the narcotics and other medications having high potential of abuse are stratified into Schedule G of Punjab Drug Rules 2017. According to these rules, drugs in Schedule G shall be sold in pharmacy under the direct supervision of qualified pharmacist. However, Schedule G is not implemented in Punjab due to continuous resistance from pharmaceutical stakeholders including medical store owners (who are barred to sell drugs from schedule G). Since 1.6 million PWID reported misuse of prescription opioids for non-medical use, delayed implementation of schedule G is attributing to the unabated sale of narcotics without prescription and for non-medical purposes, which is further contributing to the staggering number of PWID in the country. Implementing schedule G will not only curb the existing situation of HIV but will also mitigate the contribution of PWID towards the future events.

From Prohibition to Regulation: Lessons from Alcohol Policy for Drug Policy

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry G. Levine ◽  
Craig Reinarman
Keyword(s):  
Drug Policy ◽  
Alcohol Policy

scholarly journals Did Alcohol Policy Really Cause the Postsocialist Mortality Crisis? Revisiting the Rebound and Affordability Hypotheses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aytalina Azarova ◽  
Gábor Scheiring ◽  
Michael Ash ◽  
Lawrence King
Keyword(s):  
Far East ◽  
European Part ◽  
Alcohol Policy ◽  
Alcohol Policies ◽  
European Part Of Russia ◽  
Alcohol Prices ◽  
Robust Evidence

This article reexamines the argument that alcohol policies were the major factor behind the mortality crisis in postsocialist Russia. We show that the correlation between the Gorbachev anti-alcohol campaign (rebound hypothesis), alcohol prices in the 1990s (affordability hypothesis), and mortality reported in previous analyses is not robust to splitting oblasts into Far-East and the rest of Russia. Our analysis conducted on a sample of 534 towns in the European part of Russia also finds no robust evidence supporting the two hypotheses. In contrast, findings linking privatization to mortality are robust to controlling for the anti-alcohol campaign and the affordability of alcohol.

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