A comparative study of the drugs strategies of different European countries and their effectiveness

Abstract

Over the last few centuries, there have been great changes in drug legislation and policy around the world, gaining momentum as theories about how best to deal with drug users evolve. Given that the topic of drug use and regulation has been at the centre of debate for a long time, and has attracted its fair share of controversy, there are vast amounts of information available on the subject. This study is a piece of literature based research which aims to collate and summarize the most important information available, and is intended as a resource for researchers, stakeholders, or anyone with an interest in the development of drug policy. The study is also comparative in nature, examining the situations in three European countries - Malta, the United Kingdom and Portugal - from legal, criminal justice and health perspectives as well as examining the debates that are taking place around drug issues. Alone, it can be used to gain a good understanding of how drug policy has evolved and the results of the practical application of different theories. On the other hand, those wishing to read more about any of the topics covered in this study can use the reference list as a guide which can point them towards some of the most reliable and reputable literature available on drug issues.