Pj. Turnbull et R. Webster, DEMAND REDUCTION ACTIVITIES IN THE CRIMINAL-JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE EUROPEAN-UNION, Drugs: education, prevention policy, 5(2), 1998, pp. 177-184
With increased prisoner numbers, many European Union member states hav
e begun to consider the possibility of drug demand reduction intervent
ions within the criminal justice system. In this paper the results of
a six month study of drug demand reduction activity within the crimina
l justice system (CJS) of the member states of the European Union are
presented. The extent of activity at the al rest stage varies widely b
etween slates. The two most common objectives of interventions aimed a
t drug using arrestees are to provide information and to encourage con
tact with treatment services. The extent of activity at the court stag
e was difficult to establish, however, in many countries legislation e
xists which extends the possibility of drug treatment as an alternativ
e to a legal sanction. There is a considerable and increasing range of
interventions focused on drug users in prison. All countries provide
some form of demand reduction activity within this context. Many respo
ndents indicated a very low level of drug demand reduction activity ta
rgeted at released prisoners. Despite the existence of many interventi
ons, no member state has an extensive programme of demand reduction ac
tivities at every stage of the criminal justice system. Further, activ
ities are rarely available throughout all geographical areas of a coun
try.