NCJ Number
169085
Date Published
1997
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The Swedish Code of Statutes includes the Act on the Treatment of Alcoholics and Drug Misusers; passed in 1989, the goal of the act is to help individuals stop the misuse of alcohol, drugs, and evaporative solvents.
Abstract
The act mandates coercive treatment to motivate drug misusers to change their behavior and indicates county administrative courts can decide on the provision of coercive treatment. Agencies or physicians in contact with drug misusers are required to report to a social welfare board if they learn a person is in need of treatment. A social welfare board must investigate the drug misuser's circumstances, as well as previous and planned treatment measures. When the court has decided on coercive treatment, the social welfare board must ensure the court decision is implemented. Social welfare boards and police authorities can take a drug misuser into immediate custody. Treatment is to be provided through homes specially designed to provide treatment and in hospitals, and the social welfare board must take active steps to secure housing, training, and employment after an individual has been in treatment. Other provisions of the act concern restrictions on individuals in treatment, the confiscation of illegal substances, appeal of a court decision, the role of police authorities, and prosecution.