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.