Can Policy Truly Have an Effect on Substance Use Itself? Can It Minimize Harm?

Chatwin, C. (2016) Mixed Messages from Europe on Drug Policy Reform The Cases oof Sweden and the Netherlands, Journal of Drug Policy Analysis, pp.1-15.
• There are no universal success indicators for drug policies in general and there is no consensus within Europe regarding whether or not we need to modify our drug laws;
• An effective global drug policy should value variety while also attempting to provide an international framework through which various global drug policies may be assessed;
• Although no country has been totally successful in eliminating illegal drugs and their associated issues from society, the development of a number of remedies to the illicit drug problem may be considered as a beneficial development;
• While no strategy of drug control has been found to be ultimately successful, it does not make sense to limit the response options available, especially when the problem manifests itself in very diverse ways in different parts of the world.
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