A recently released scientific report by Henrik Tham examines how the Swedish police, primarily through the Swedish Narcotics Police Association (SNPF), form and communicate their views on the drug problem.
How this affects the police and in the long run Swedish drug policy.
The study “The Swedish Narcotics Police Association’s journal – the police’s image of a problem?” is based on a comprehensive content analysis of the journal from SNPF, which has been published since 1988 and covers over 145 editions until 2023.
Tham is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Criminology, Stockholm University.
Background and purpose
The purpose of Tham’s study is to analyze how the police, through their journal, represent the drug problem, what solutions are advocated, and how this reflects the broader debate on drug policy. By examining themes that emerge in the journal – such as the dangers of drugs, drug offenders, views on knowledge and experts, opponents of drug policy, and what is left unproblematized – Tham tries to identify the basic assumptions that shape the police’s stance on the issue.
Main themes and results
- The Dangers of Drugs
A recurring theme in the journal is a strongly alarmist presentation of the drug problem. Drug use is considered to generate serious medical and social risks and to be linked to a variety of forms of crime. The SNPF portrays drugs, especially cannabis and cocaine, as a threat to society. Drugs are linked to violent crime and international terrorism, with examples from ISIS fighters and historical references to Nazism. - The police as a key player
The police are portrayed in the magazine as the main defender of the goal of a drug-free society, which has been an explicit goal in Swedish drug policy since the late 1970s. The police are seen as the main force in maintaining the status quo and opposing any attempts at liberalization or reform of drug laws. - Opposition to liberalisation
The police are portrayed in the magazine as the main defender of the goal of a drug-free society, which has been an explicit goal in Swedish drug policy since the late 1970s. The police are seen as the main force in maintaining the status quo and opposing any attempts at liberalization or reform of drug laws. - The view of knowledge
The police and their experience in the field are highlighted as the most reliable source of knowledge about the drug problem. At the same time, academic researchers and other experts who question the restrictive drug policy are criticized. The SNPF emphasises the importance of practical experience and often advocates that the police are best placed to assess what measures are necessary to combat drug crime. - Criticism of other actors
The journal criticizes both the media and government institutions that advocate a more liberal view of drugs. The media is often considered too uncritical of advocates of legalization, and research that does not support the repressive drug policy is criticized for being misleading or incorrect. The SNPF sees itself as a counterforce to what they consider to be a growing liberal attitude in society. - Absence of discussion of the costs of control
Tham points out that an important aspect that is conspicuous by its absence in the journal is a discussion of the costs of drug control. The extensive effort against drug use is not discussed in terms of its social and economic consequences. Topics such as police interventions, especially against young people and minority groups, are not addressed in terms of the potential harm that can be done to these groups or to trust in the justice system. - Police resources and frustration
Another central theme is the perceived lack of resources within the police. Despite increased efforts and more drug-related interventions, the journal expresses a feeling that the justice system is underfunded and that police officers who work with drug issues feel overburdened and understaffed. - Police cooperation with international actors
International relations, especially with narcotics police in the United States, are highlighted as an important source of knowledge and inspiration for Swedish police. Trips to the United States and collaborations with U.S. agencies such as the DEA are frequently described and provide support for the restrictive line advocated by the SNPF.
Discussion points and conclusions
Tham emphasizes that SNPF’s magazine forms a very one-sided picture of the drug problem, which is almost exclusively seen as a police and criminal law problem. However, this view of the drug problem conflicts with some empirical data that point to stable or even declining levels of drug use among young people in Sweden. Tham also argues that the police’s dominant role in drug policy can make it difficult for a broader societal discussion about alternative ways of dealing with the drug issue, such as harm reduction strategies or a more socially oriented view of drug addicts.
The SNPF’s alarmism and resistance to liberalization can be seen as a consequence of the Swedish drug policy’s overall goal of a drug-free society. This case has shaped the police’s view of drugs as an absolute threat that requires strong repressive measures. The report shows that this attitude can also contribute to the police appearing inflexible and unable to adopt new, more nuanced perspectives on the drug issue.
Overall, Tham’s report points to how the police, through the SNPF, have had a strong influence on Swedish drug policy and how their newspaper has become a central platform for spreading a specific, strongly repressive interpretation of the drug problem.
This article published on Ganja.nu is an interpretation of the report that can be read in its entirety here:
The Swedish Narcotics Police Association’s journal – the police’s picture of a problem?