Drug policy
The aim of Finland’s drug policy is to prevent the use and distribution of drugs in an effort to minimise the economic, health-related, social and personal harm as well as financial costs caused by drug use. In Finland, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for the coordination of drug policy. THL produces research, monitoring and expert information on drug policy, and supports drug policy coordination.
Finland’s drug policy is based on international drug treaties, national legislation and separately prepared drug policy documents. The latter include: the national drugs strategy 1997 and subsequent Government resolutions on drug policy and related action plans.
Prohibitionist drug policy while not forgetting harm reduction
Finland's drug policy is prohibitionist: both serious drug offences, referring to drug manufacturing, trade and trafficking, as well as the use and possession of drugs is illegal and punishable. Alongside the prohibitionist policy, harm reduction drug policy is often mentioned, emphasising national health perspectives. The most well-known measures to reduce drug-related harm include health counselling provided to drug users, including needle and syringe programmes and opioid substitution treatment. In this case, intervening in drug use is not a priority: preventing and reducing the most harmful consequences of drug use is considered more important.
