A Comparative Evaluation Report on Drug Abuse Laws in UK and Norway

This report offers a comparative evaluation of drug abuse legislation in the United Kingdom and Norway, highlighting the differences in their approaches to drug policy and law enforcement. It examines the ineffectiveness of the UK's drug policies, evidenced by rising drug-related deaths, and contrasts it with Norway's more lenient approach, which includes decriminalization and governance by common law. The report details specific legislations such as the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 in the UK, alongside Norway's reliance on the Act on Medicinal Products and Penal Code 231. Penalties for drug offenses, strategies for drug control, and the roles of various governmental bodies are also discussed, providing a comprehensive overview of the drug abuse landscape in both countries and their efforts to combat drug-related issues.

Evaluation Report

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................3
Main body.............................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES.....................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
The drug is a type of medication that can be used both in positive and negative sense. Some drugs
are used to treat disease. But, in the present culture there are many drugs that are used in excessive
amount in order to give pleasant feelings to the individual. But, the use of this drug has many
disadvantages as it disturbs 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 provides 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. Further more, this essay details
about the legislations that are formulated for reducing the drug abuse in the country. It also details
about the comparison between the drug policies of Norway and United Kingdom. Moreover,
Norway has the best drug policies all over the world as proved by the internation reports on drug
abuse.
Main body
The drug policy of UK is failing from time to time. This is because the increase in number of death
due to drug abuse in the country. The provisions of the policies are not that much effective to
control the drug abuse in the country. Moreover, the dearth rate is rising that it is now hindering the
public health facilities in the medical sector of the country. On the contrary to it, the drug abuse in
Norway is slightly low as compare to UK. This is because of less drug abuse in the country. 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 sin the country.
Furthermore, the drug abuse in United Kingdom is governed by the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1971
and Psychoactive Substances Act, 2016. These acts provides for the provisions of use of drugs and
when these drugs are abused by the people. Further more, these acts provide for the provisions of
the punishments of drug abuse in the country.
The drug abuse in UK is increasing day by day. This can be seen by the reports as published by the
country. 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 is because they are more depressed and stressed in their life. 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 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.
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 society, 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. 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 completes in 2012 and after that 147 measures were taken.
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. 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).

In Norway there are no law made separately in relation to drugs. 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.
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
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. 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.
The categories are formed as A, B, C which shows the level of harm the particulars drug is causing.
Category A reflects the drugs which are more hazardous and includes severe punishments and
penalties which covers Cannabinol injections. Category B includes the drugs which are less harmful
than A that is Cannabis, Opioids, Sedatives. Category C includes the drugs which are least harmful
from the former categories, that is Tranquillizers, less potential Stimulants(Hughes, et.al., 2018).
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 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. 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 also 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.

REFERENCES
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