The problem with narcotics is one of Sweden’s biggest social problems. Statistics shows that the number of narcotic related deaths and the numbers of heavy drug users are increasing. The present narcotic policy has been questioned due to this increase. As a social worker you meet drug users on a daily basis. A possible review of the current law requires that the social workers are well knowledgeable in order to take part in the debate. To be able to discuss new political directions you need to have knowledge about the history. The purpose with this dissertation is to understand the Swedish social political ideas that resulted in the 1968’s narcotic penalty law. This dissertation has a social constructive perspective and in the analysis has the labeling theiry been applied. As a method a document analysis has been used. The material has mainly been Parliamentary protocols and SOU-investigations. An analysis of the contents was made when the material was read. The younger drug users, the increasing consumption, the drug users groups and the illegal drug traffic was main factors that influenced the social political thought and ideas that lead to the 1968’s narcotic penalty law. Author: Emma Porsblad Käll Title: The social policy discussion that laid the ground for the narcotic law 1968. (Translated title) Supervisor: Erik Wångmar, University lecture by the institute of civics by Växjö University. Assessor: Torbjörn Hjort, University lecture by the institute of healthscience and social work by Växjö University. Key words: Social policy, narcotics, social history, and law-drafting board. 2

<p>The problem with narcotics is one of Sweden’s biggest social problems. Statistics shows that</p><p>the number of narcotic related deaths and the numbers of heavy drug users are increasing. The</p><p>present narcotic policy has been questioned due to this increase. As a social worker you meet</p><p>drug users on a daily basis. A possible review of the current law requires that the social</p><p>workers are well knowledgeable in order to take part in the debate. To be able to discuss new</p><p>political directions you need to have knowledge about the history. The purpose with this</p><p>dissertation is to understand the Swedish social political ideas that resulted in the 1968’s</p><p>narcotic penalty law. This dissertation has a social constructive perspective and in the analysis</p><p>has the labeling theiry been applied. As a method a document analysis has been used. The</p><p>material has mainly been Parliamentary protocols and SOU-investigations. An analysis of the</p><p>contents was made when the material was read. The younger drug users, the increasing</p><p>consumption, the drug users groups and the illegal drug traffic was main factors that</p><p>influenced the social political thought and ideas that lead to the 1968’s narcotic penalty law.</p><p>Author: Emma Porsblad Käll</p><p>Title: The social policy discussion that laid the ground for the</p><p>narcotic law 1968. (Translated title)</p><p>Supervisor: Erik Wångmar, University lecture by the institute of civics by</p><p>Växjö University.</p><p>Assessor: Torbjörn Hjort, University lecture by the institute of healthscience</p><p>and social work by Växjö University.</p><p>Key words: Social policy, narcotics, social history, and law-drafting board.</p><p>2</p>