Treatment of psycho-active drug abuse in Belgian and Swedish prisons: a comparative study

Abstract: • Background: Belgium and Sweden differ both in their history and culture in the field of psycho-active drug use. Sweden is evolving away from their positive, Lombroso based penal policy which focusses on treatment to a more punishment oriented policy. Belgium is doing quite the opposite going from a history based on the Classic school which focusses on punishment with treatment as an addition to a more treatment centered penal policy. • Aim: The aim is to compare both countries and to find on which levels Belgium could learn from Sweden and vice versa. To do so a summary is made of the prison based psycho-active drug abuse programs. • Method: The method used is a literature study using scientific literature, governmental websites and websites from the organizations of psycho-active drug abuse treatment programs. • Results: Both Belgium and Sweden have an opiate substitution program. Sweden also offers inmates the opportunity to be released from prison in exchange for undergoing a psycho-active drug abuse program and offers the 12-stegprogrammet, Våga Välja, Prism and Återfallsprevention. Belgium offers a redirection to treatment outside of prison through TANDEM (former CAP’s) and offers prison based programs called B.Leave, D-side, Détenus Contact Santé program, Opération Boules De Neige, CGG and AA. • Conclusion: The study concludes that Belgium organizes a gateway for inmates to outside psycho-active drug abuse treatment rather than organizing treatment inside prison walls like Sweden does. Both Belgium and Sweden have availability issues with many programs only being available in a small proportion of all prisons. Belgium also lacks a theoretical basis in many of its programs whereas Sweden does not. Globally speaking, both countries could learn and are learning from one another. They are evolving towards one another in their penal policy and will eventually meet.