A road less travelled ‐ Sweden's pursuit of abstinence

Abstract

To many Europeans, Sweden is the odd member in the global effort to tackle drug problems. At a time when most countries stress a perspective of public health and almost entirely rely on harm reduction measures, Sweden almost exclusively directs its efforts towards abstinence. Carl Åke Farbring, a key policy maker, explains why abstinence is the driving force in Sweden, highlighting claims that it is the lowest drug‐using nation in the western world.