DRUG POLICIES IN EUROPE NORWAY AND SWEDEN'S TWO OPPOSING MODELS

Norway's focus on social intervention and prevention stands in stark contrast to Sweden's escalating gang violence. This difference highlights two distinct approaches to fighting drug-related crime, raising questions for other nations grappling with similar issues.

In a part of Europe often seen as peaceful and socially advanced, two nations are following radically different paths to combat drugs and urban crime. Norway has opted for a strategy centered on social prevention, listening, and inclusion. In contrast, Sweden is facing a security crisis driven by rising drug trafficking and youth gangs, with daily headlines reporting violent incidents.

In Oslo, the Norwegian capital, the city has chosen to invest in social workers over armed police patrols. This approach is a world away from the situation in Sweden's city of Uppsala, where three teenagers have been shot and killed in separate incidents over just a few months, a clear sign of a social fabric under immense strain. As the rest of Europe watches, these two contrasting models offer valuable lessons for countries where repressive policies have failed to address the root causes of these problems.

The Norwegian Model: Human-Centered Prevention

"When we ask young people on the streets what they need, the answer is always the same: a roof and a job," says Stine Marit Sundsbø, a social worker with the City of Oslo's "External Service." Along with her colleagues, she works tirelessly in high-substance-use areas, approaching individuals not with uniforms or weapons, but with empathy.

Their work involves getting to know people by name, remembering their stories, and offering a listening ear and practical alternatives. This strategy is effective because it reduces isolation, addresses core risk factors, and rebuilds social connections. It's a proactive model that aims to prevent problems before they escalate.

The Swedish Case: Escalating Violence and Political Responses

Just a few hundred kilometers to the east, the situation is dramatically different. In Sweden and Denmark, drug-related crime is soaring, with frequent shootings, murders, and gang recruitment among young people. Gangs battle for control of territory, and social media amplifies a sense of impunity, turning social distress into rage.

In response, the Danish government has launched a multi-million-kroner security plan with special patrols to target gangs online. Sweden has reacted by tightening border controls. In Norway, there is a growing concern that this criminal violence could "infect" their country.

Oslo police data shows that while overall youth crime is down, serious offenses are increasing. Authorities believe this is linked to drug trafficking and a culture of imitation, as social worker Sundsbø notes: "If young people feel that others carry a knife for self-defense, they will end up doing the same. It only takes a moment for a tragedy to happen."

A Lesson for Other Countries

Norway's relative success is also tied to its handling of immigrant integration. Unlike Sweden, Norway has invested significant resources into job training and employment programs for migrants and at-risk youth.

"Punishment doesn't always deter," says social worker Nana Mensah, "but a job contract can change a life." This belief underpins the Norwegian government's socially focused approach, which prioritizes prevention alongside proportionate penalties, a policy that continues to have strong public support despite pressure from right-wing parties. As social worker Børge Erdal concludes, "We have created something that works, and it is worth defending."