Cocaine use hits a new high in Sweden
Cocaine use has hit record highs in Sweden resulting in more deaths than ever before, according to a new study released this week.
The findings of the study released by national broadcaster SVT conclude that the highly addictive drug has, over the years, become more common, cheaper and purer. Police and customs have made more seizures of cocaine. The number of police drug busts has increased by almost 300 percent since 2012, with a similar rise in the number of discoveries by customs. In 2018, Swedish customs seized 485kg of cocaine, mainly through two major seizures of 298kg and 98kg.
Increased number of deaths caused by cocaine
The report also reveals the drug has led to more deaths. According to data from the Swedish National Board of Forensic Medicine, cocaine was said to be the cause of death in 20 cases compared to just one a few years ago. The number of autopsy cases in which cocaine was present increased ten-fold since 2011. Although these deaths remain a small proportion overall, the increase still had the effect of initiating an investigation into cocaine-related deaths last Fall.
The report’s launch was part of the Gräv 2019 seminar for investigative journalism, held in Kalmar this week. SVT worked together with regional newspapers to map cocaine use in Sweden. The report shows an increase in the numbers testing positive for small drug offences, and an increase in those in which cocaine was the substance found. Cannabis and amphetamines are typically the most common drugs, but the proportion of those with cocaine has increased dramatically since 2011.
”Cocaine has increased at least four-fold. This indicates that usage has increased,” Robert Kronstrand, research and development strategist at the Swedish National Board of Forensic Medicine’s Legal Genetics and Legal Chemistry Department, told SVT. ”Blood samples have improved, which may explain more positive tests, but that’s not the reason for the sharp increase.”
The Police agree that the testing process isn’t the reason for the sharp increase. One Police intelligence expert told SVT that they say see the results as an important indicator of the spread of cocaine use in Swedish society.
One fact backing up the hypothesis is the changing nature of the deaths. Whereas in the past, all deaths were in connection with a party or with a gathering of people, almost everyone who died from cocaine in 2018 were found in their own homes.
Is Sweden’s zero-tolerance approach a failure?
Questions are now being asked in the Swedish media about the future of the country’s zero-tolerance approach to drug crimes. The country’s hard-line approach, which the Swedish government calls ’a balanced policy based on health and human rights’ is a rarity in northern Europe, and has even been criticized by the United Nations.
The policy draws little distinction between ’hard’ and ’soft’ drugs, and gives Police the power of detain and force a compulsory urine test to anyone they suspect of being high. ”Prohibiting both personal use and the possession and sale of drugs in Sweden makes it harder for ’open drug scenes’ to arise, i.e. places where drugs are used and sold more or less openly. This is an important element in systematically reducing access to drugs and preventing people from using drugs,” states the policy.
In 2017, neighbours Norway took the first step towards the decriminalisation of drug use. The move was supported by the government and several opposition parties. Nicolas Wilkinson, the health spokesman for the Socialist Labour Party (SV), told VG that the goal was to “stop punishing people who struggle, but instead give them help and treatment”. He added that the ultimate goal is to transfer responsibility for drug policy from the justice system to the health system.
According to The Local, a majority of the Swedish parliament’s committee on health and welfare now support reevaluating the country’s drug policy. The Liberals, the Centre party, the Swedish Democrats, the Christian Democrats and the Left party all back the idea of taking a fresh look.