Drug Policies in UK and Norway: A Comparative Analysis

This essay discusses the drug policies in UK and Norway, comparing their legislations and punishments for drug abuse. It also highlights the current condition of drug abuse in both countries. The essay concludes with suggestions for amendments in the laws to deal with the critical condition of drug abuse and help addicted persons recover.

Evaluation Report

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................1
References:.......................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Drugs are the substances that majorly affects the functioning of the body of an individual.
The drugs are basically used for the diagnosis, prevention and the treatment of diseases. It is also
used to provide relief for the symptoms of disease so caused in the body of the individual
(Oxford Reference, 2022). Moreover, using drug affect the health of the individuals (DeWolf et
al., 2018). There are many policies and legislations that are formulated to control drug abuse all
over the world. These legislations also specifies for the punishments for drug abuse in the
country. Moreover, it also includes the use of drug for illegal purposes other than for which it is
made for are termed as drug abuse. Moreover, this essay discusses about the drug abuse in UK.
This essay ill discuss the legislations that are formulated for reducing the drug abuse by
comparing the drug policies of Norway and UK. Moreover, Norway has been considered as the
best drug policies all over the world as specified by the reports on drug abuse.
MAIN BODY
The drug policy of UK is failing evident with the increase in number of deaths due to
drug abuse in the country (Degenhardt and Hall, 2012).
 The policy of drug in UK requires some amendments in order to control the drug abuse as
the consumption as well as death rates are not being controlled in the country. Moreover,
with this, the death rate related to the drugs are preventable with the use of an
appropriate policies.
 Moreover, it would also create an impact on health services by reducing the pressure of
the drug death rates in the country. In contrast, the drug abuse in Norway is slightly low
compared to the UK (Death rates in Europe, 2022).
 The Norway has no specific policy for illicit drug abuse as like in UK. This means that
the drug abuse in Norway is governed by the common law. Moreover, in Norway there is
decriminalisation of drug abuse in the country. However, there are punishments and
criminalisation for the use of some specific drugs by the individual (O’Mara, 2020).
Those specific drugs that are illegal in Norway are the narcotic drugs. Further more, the
import of drugs in Norway is illegal. There are also provisions that specifies the
punishments for the import of these drug in the UK.
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Furthermore, the drug abuse in United Kingdom is governed by the Misuse of Drugs Act,
1971 and Psychoactive Substances Act, 2016. These legislations provides for the provisions of
use of drugs and when these drugs are abused by the people.
The drugs has been specified as A, B or C as to compare the degree of harm in theory,
every class has different penalties that is to be applied for prohibition of activities related to
drugs. Under section 3 to section 6 the activities which are in relation to drugs are prohibited.
This includes production, possession, supply and possession having intention to supply. In
section 9 the offences in relation to opium which includes smoking or other use of opium. Under
section 9A supply of any article which is used in unlawful administration of drugs are prohibited.
This sections are covered under Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, UK. Furthermore,
these acts provide for the provisions of the punishments of drug abuse in the country. There has
been prevalence of the drug use in UK in last few years with around 9.4% increase in England &
Wales and 12% in Scotland while 5.9% in Northern Ireland. This can be seen by the report as
published by the country (UK drug situation 2019). This can be seen as by the laws of the
country. The drug abuse can be seen more in case of young people of the country. This same
scenario can be seen in the the country Norway. In comparison with the Norway the UK has
more individual whop suffers from drug abuse in the country. The drug abuse can further be seen
in other countries also. This abuse is increasing day by day all over the world(Winstock,
Eastwood and Stevens, 2021). The reasons for the drug abuse is that the individuals are now
facing the depression and stress in their regular lives. Moreover, the individuals are also facing
various problems relate to physical and mental pressure in their lives. Hence, all this has lead to
increase the drug abuse in the country.
In Norway the drug policy is introduced in year 2012, they introduce a comprehensive
drugs and alcohol policy, which includes doping, alcohol, addictive medications and illicit drugs.
This policy is based on fundamental principle of health protection, where promotion of health
and prevention principle are included in all the areas of society(Friedman and Gjersing,
2022).This policy prohibits alcohol consumption and drug through targeting drug trafficking and
organised crime. This has seen from the data that are published by the health ministry of the
country (Strang, et.al, 2012). The objectives of this policy of 2012 white paper is supported by
subsequent government white papers. The Norway changes its drugs policy and strategy by
ongoing indicator monitoring and research project. The plan for Drugs and Alcohol Field
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completes in 2012 and after that 147 measures were taken. Under class B the maximum penalties
are given is five years or unlimited fine of possessing or both. Fourteen years of imprisonment
and unlimited fine for production and trafficking of drugs. Under class C the maximum
punishment are two years of imprisonment or unlimited fine for possession of drugs or both, and
five years of imprisonment or unlimited fine or both. In the UK drugs offences if someone is
tried then the maximum punishment can not exceed six months and 5000 pound fine or there is
three month of imprisonment and fine for less serious offences. This is being tried summarily by
magistrates or with the jury at a crown court(Buvik, Bye and Gripenberg, 2019).
Under law of UK there are penalties given under section 25 and 26. section 27 deals with
the process of forfeiture. The table of penalties are given under Appendix A. Three class is being
made for maximum penalties. Under class A the penalty of seven year and unlimited fine for
possession is given, unlimited fine for production or trafficking with sentence of seven year. In
Norway there are no law made separately in relation to drugs. Under class B the maximum
penalties are given is five years or unlimited fine of possessing or both. Fourteen years of
imprisonment and unlimited fine for production and trafficking of drugs. Under class C the
maximum punishment are two years of imprisonment or unlimited fine for possession of drugs or
both, and five years of imprisonment or unlimited fine or both. In the UK drugs offences if
someone is tried then the maximum punishment can not exceed six months and 5000 pound fine
or there is three month of imprisonment and fine for less serious offences (Drug penalties, 2022).
This is being tried summarily by magistrates or with the jury at a crown court(Buvik, Bye and
Gripenberg, 2019).
All the use and possession of drug falls under the Act on Medicinal Products. The
penalties have fines or imprisonment up to six months. The offence is being deemed by a special
evaluation by aggravated by taking into consideration about the type of substance is involved.
The aggravated drugs use is punished by up to 10 years of imprisonment if the quantity is
involved the term of imprisonment will increased as by 3 to 15 years (Emanuel, et.al.2020). The
act on sentence execution allows for voluntary treatment as alternative to a prison sentence. This
decision is made by the governor of the prison service institutions. The three year trial lies under
the court control starts in 2006, this was extended to the year 2014(Aas, et.al, 2020).
The national drug policy of the UK includes a ten year strategy plan to deal with the drug
abuse and the laws which are framed 9in order to prohibit the use of drugs. The strategy was
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formulated in 1998 by the government of the country which has four main aims targeted by the
respective authorities who has framed the required policies. They are, young population,
societies or communal groups, treatment and availability. In order to restrict the use of drug by
the young people of the state, the authorities set up a institutional framework by providing
information and educating the children studying in colleges and schools regarding the harmful
effects of drugs and the consequences on the health which they will going to face as an after
effect(Koman, 2019). They instructed the educational institutions in order to adopt the policies to
control the consumption of drugs. In terms of communities, the government identified the
criminals who are imprisoned because of the drug abuses through the effect of criminal justice
system so as to provide an easy access to the rehabilitation and other treatment services to all
those offenders who are living in the community. They have also introduced various drug
welfare programs in order to deal with the drug misuse. Finally the government founded that the
availability of drugs on the common streets must be restricted especially to 5 to 16 year old
children. This plan was formulated by the seizure of the drug suppliers and those who are
involved in trafficking. The Legislative framework regarding the prohibition of drug
consumption are, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985, both the
legislations helps in controlling the excessive usage of the listed drugs(Hughes, et.al., 2018).
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The above drug chart explains that the drug abuse is being increasing day by day in the
whole Europe. This also specifies that the drug death rates is more often in the country United
Kingdom as compare to the Norway. Further more, there is slight difference between both the
countries in case of drug abuse(Vaismoradi, et.al, 2019).
The National Drug Policy of Norway has been framed in the year 2012. it includes
alcohol, illegal drugs. Addictive medications and doping. The above inclusions are solved
through five welfare domains. They are prevention and intervention, coordination, services and
assistance to those who are undergoing with severe drug (dependencyGreer, et.al., 2022). The
Norwegian drug policy is based on certain principles which is inclusive to the society by
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targeting each and every area of the society. The policies beloved that the drug prohibition must
be done from the root level or ground level. Further this policy intervened in the consumption of
alcohol, drug consumption, crimes related to drug abuses, trafficking and exercising control over
drug pedlars.
Moreover, Norway does not have any specific legislations regarding the control of drug
abuses. Petty offences related to misuse of drugs is covered under the act based on Medicinal
Products. The punishment includes the imprisonment of six months and fine. The Penal Code
231 prohibits the manufacturing, export and import, acquisition and storing the drugs. Penalties
are imposing required amount of fine and imprisonment for two years. Drug law offences( DLO)
is the foundation body which acts as a watchdog over drug related offences in order to exercise
control over the offenders involved in drug dealings and supplying. It also acts as the
informatory structure related to the implementation of the strategies and policies made by the
government of Norway(Berrick, Skivenes and Roscoe, 2022).
CONCLUSION
The above essay summarises about the legislations related to drug abuse in the country of
United Kingdom and Norway. This essay concludes about the present condition of drug abuse in
the country. This essay details about the provisions related to punishments of drug abuse in both
the countries. This also describes about the penalties that are to be paid by the defaulter party as
per the law of the country. It also discusses about the related procedures and laws for the
country. Moreover both the countries has used the adequate policies in order to decrease the
offence of human trafficking in the country. Further more, there can be such amendments could
be done in the laws for the drug abuse. This is because the country would be able to deal with the
critical condition of the drug abuse. Moreover, the amendments must also provides for the
policies that helps the addicted persons to recover from the drug abuse in the country.
References:
Books and Journals
Buvik, K., Bye, E.K. and Gripenberg, J., 2019. Alcohol and drug use among staff at licensed
premises in Norway. Scandinavian journal of public health, 47(4), pp.393-399.
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De Wolf, H., et.al., 2018. High-throughput gene expression profiles to define drug similarity and
predict compound activity. Assay and drug development technologies, 16(3), pp.162-
176.
Degenhardt, L. and Hall, W., 2012. Extent of illicit drug use and dependence, and their
contribution to the global burden of disease. The Lancet, 379(9810), pp.55-70.
Emanuel, E.J., et.al., 2020. Drug reimbursement regulation in 6 peer countries. JAMA Internal
Medicine, 180(11), pp.1510-1517.
Friedman, J. and Gjersing, L., 2022. Increases in drug overdose deaths in Norway and the United
States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scandinavian journal of public health,
p.14034948221075025.
Greer, A., et.al., 2022. The details of decriminalization: Designing a non-criminal response to the
possession of drugs for personal use. International Journal of Drug Policy, 102,
p.103605.
Hughes, C.E., et.al., 2018. Drug-related police encounters across the globe: How do they
compare?. International Journal of Drug Policy, 56, pp.197-207.
O’Mara, B., 2020. The effectiveness of changes to drug policy, regulation and legislation for
reducing harms associated with opioids and supporting their medicinal use in Australia,
Canada and the UK: A systematic review. Evidence Base: A journal of evidence reviews
in key policy areas, 2, pp.79-110.
Winstock, A., Eastwood, N. and Stevens, A., 2021. Another drug strategy for the
Vaismoradi, M.,et.al , 2019. Adverse drug reactions in norway: a systematic
review. Pharmacy, 7(3), p.102.
Koman, R.N., 2019. Sustaining the development goals in drug approaches in Europe, Norway
and Singapore. Beijing L. Rev., 10, p.882.
Aas, C.F., et.al , 2020. Uptake and predictors of direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C
among people receiving opioid agonist therapy in Sweden and Norway: a drug
utilization study from 2014 to 2017. Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and
policy, 15(1), pp.1-10.
Online:
Death rates in Europe, 2022 [Online] Available Through
<https://www.statista.com/chart/10320/drug-deaths-in-europe/>
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UK Drug situation, 2019 [Online] Available Through
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-drug-situation-focal-
point-annual-report/uk-drug-situation-2019-summary
Drug penalties, 2022 [Online] Available Through <https://www.gov.uk/penalties-drug-
possession-dealing>
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Online
Oxford Reference, 2022 [Online] Available Through
<https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095731921>
UK. Bmj, 375.
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