CHAPTER 3 THE NATIONAL CONTEXT

In Part I, I have mentioned that in Sweden and the Netherlands different practices of formal social control have developed. To understand these differences one must have a grasp of the historical contexts in which they emerged. The description of the contexts will focus on the relationship between the central state, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations in the three fields of the action programme as part of the drug policy. It is of special interest to describe differences in the structure and implementation of the health system and the social services. In addition, differences in the education system are important to understand practices of prevention. National legislation is  circumscribed and constrained by the international control system and little room is left to national strategies. However, some differences in the judicial system will be discussed in the course of the thesis.