The EU challenge: New Organization and Culture around Psychotropic Prescription Drugs in the Nordic Count

Abstract

The complicated balance, including the formal system, that regulates patterns of psychotropic drug usage in the Nordic countries is under rapid change. The European Union is the main agent of change. The general public, the politicians, the administrators and health professionals all seem to agree that consumption is too high and the awareness of this problem has been rising in recent years. This coincides with the European integration process. It is suggested in the article that the Nordic tendencies to have a paternalistic “health” regulatory system will be replaced by a “market” organized system, emphasizing free competition, consumer rigths, legal decisions and industry interests. One result will be a larger and unpredictable assortment; another probable result is higher and more complicated structured usage patterns. The old system of national health authorities as the main regulatory actor will be seriously weakened. The challenge of solving the problem of managing and reducing consumption of addictive drugs is difficult, and social regulation must rely on new tools. Local and regional authorities and organizations will have a central role, as well as patient organizations and public and professional debate. The final outcome is unpredictable, but one thing is clear, it will be a significantly different structure.