The STAN programme

The city has adopted a new alcohol, drugs and tobacco initiative called the STAN programme, which is going to guide the entire city's work with substance abuse issues.
According to the programme, the city is working on several levels to prevent and remedy addiction. Expanded public health work will be required to reach young adults so that incipient drug abuse and future needs for social and medical care can be replaced with a drug-free lifestyle.
People who have become caught in the trap of addiction will be offered treatment according to methods that have proven effective over the long term.

Prevention - parents and schools

Prevention is becoming increasingly important to reduce new recruitment to drug abuse and the need for treatment. Gratifyingly, we have seen a decline in drug abuse among students in Stockholm schools. We work with preventive methods that are strongly supported by research.
The schools are a superb arena for preventive efforts because all children go to school. We have understood the strong correlation between risky behaviours among children and their relationships with their parents.
• Every year, we issue books to all parents of teenagers age 13 to 17 to encourage them to talk to their children and prevent drug use.
• We have discussion groups for parents who want to learn how to respond to their kids if they are acting out.
• We are developing new methods of leadership in the classroom for teachers.
• We are developing evidence-based prevention programmes for compulsory school grades four to nine in the City of Stockholm.

The PUMAN project for young adults age 18 to 28

The city has been running the PUMAN project for almost five years aimed at young people who seek help of their own volition with abandoning a destructive lifestyle. The target group is made up of people who have not become so severely addicted that they need palpable care and treatment. We have been able to meet most of the need with a rather limited investment (equivalent to one and a half full-time equivalents), which we believe has probably reduced future care needs.

Cooperation with other agencies

Effective care and treatment is predicated on extensive cooperation between the city and other agencies and organisations. A delay between detox, treatment or incarceration can wipe out the effect of earlier interventions and intensify the addiction.
• In the "Individual in Focus" project, the city has worked to create a tighter network of responsible agencies around the individual addict.
• The "Life Pilot" programme, currently in the trial phase, is a proactive example of our determination to attack all aspects of drug abuse management. County addiction treatment programmes, police initiatives on the street and social services are working together to offer treatment to addicts with no breaks in the care chain. The state initiative "Mobilisation against Drugs" is contributing with training and evaluation.
• We will soon be making a resolution on a cooperation agreement between the city and the county council regarding people with mental illnesses and/or addiction problems. People with severe and complex care needs will get their needs met and avoid "falling between the cracks."
• The Stockholm Model - The city has a unique partnership with the client movement through Rainbow Sweden. The partnership applies to housing, job training and recreation and is aimed at reinforcing the weakest link in the care chain - the period immediately following care and treatment.

Counteract the drug culture in pubs and the club scene

Stockholm is cooperating with the restaurant industry to reduce the serving of alcohol to minors and to reduce drug abuse among restaurant employees.
It is important to work with the knowledge and values of the employees in order to counteract the drug culture on the club scene.
The city is also going to tighten the terms and conditions for alcohol service in restaurants, aimed at reducing alcohol abuse, disorderly conduct and discrimination in the restaurant industry.

 
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