On Monday the Nordic Ministers for Health met in Ålborg Denmark to discuss, among other issues, a common Nordic drugs strategy.

An effective drugs and doping policy reduces new recruitment to abuse, makes more addicts leave their addiction behind, and also reduces supply of drugs. This is critical in order to reach the goal – a drug free society. Co-operation across national borders is a prerequisite to reach that goal.

It is a fact that the Nordic countries have chosen different ways to tackle the drug problem. Norway has chosen to introduce drug injection rooms and they now discuss the introduction of heroin distribution, which is already operating in Denmark, said the Swedish Minister for Health, Maria Larsson, who clearly stressed that there is no support to introduce such measures in Sweden.

Harm reduction measures may decrease suffering and death, but the signals to addicts must be very clear: we are willing to help you, but not with your addiction, said Larsson.

One of the starting points I would like to see in a Nordic strategy is that we should not accept a development where drugs threaten the health of individuals, their quality of life and safety, and in the long run common welfare and the development of democracy. I would also appreciate a common Nordic stance regarding evidence-based treatment methods and preventive measures targeting addicts, said Maria Larsson.

The ministers agreed that the question about a common strategy should be prepared by senior civil servants this autumn, and then be decided upon during the Finnish presidency of the Nordic Council.

* The Nordic Council was formed 1952nd The Council has 87 elected members from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden as well as from the three autonomous territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland.

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