ABSTRACT
Sweden has by tradition had a restrictive drug policy, in which cannabis has been treated on the same level as "hard" drugs. The drug situation among young persons is now better than in previous years, with only a few percent of young persons reporting having tried drugs. However, we still have large groups of heavy drug abusers in older age groups. As long as these groups continue to be an important focus for import and dealing with narcotics, there is a great risk of further spread of drug abuse and recruitement of new groups. Preventive activities targeted to young people is still an important task, and new methods have to be elaborated, suited for youth of the nineties. Of great concern at present is the harmonization towards the European Community. Scientists and health care workers have warned against the effects on Swedish alcohol and drug policy -and thus the health of the populationthat might result if Sweden would have to change laws and social policy, and close down all frontier controls.
