ABSTRACT
The use of illicit drugs in Poland occurred throughout the entire period of the 20th century. The first systematic collection of information revealing the problem was published in the early 1920s. The recognition of the drug problem led to the development of counteracting measures such as the regulation of the drug supply, the creation of special wards for drug addicts and the formation of the first advisory institution. The discovery of the problems at the beginning of the 1980s led to the preparation of “the Act on the Prevention of Drug Dependence”. The Act was passed by the Polish parliament on 31 January 1985. The drug problem was defined in medical terms and particular emphasis was placed on prevention and treatment. Before 1990, government policy relating to the drug problem was described in the Programme for the Prevention of Drug Addiction drafted by the Committee for the Prevention of Drug Addiction.
