ABSTRACT
The use of drugs – such as illicit drugs, alcohol and other addictive substances including those medically prescribed – is not a new phenomenon but one that takes on meaning and importance in relation to its social context that varies over time and location. In the case of Walter, Irmgard Vogt outlines the restriction and the possibilities of social workers dealing with drug users. The aims and the strategies differ throughout time, and various political decisions and perspectives strongly infl uence this fi eld of social work.
