SUU, Alm.del - 2008-09 - Endeligt svar på spørgsmål 436: Spm. om at fremsende talepapir og anden relevant information om det danske bidrag ved "The 52nd session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs" i Wien den 11. og 12. marts 2009, til ministeren for sundhed og forebyggelse

Thank you, Mr Chairman.As it is the first time I take the floor I would like to congratulate you on your electionand assure you of my full support during this round table discussion on demandreduction, treatment and preventive policies.Although progress has been made since the General Assembly in 1998 decided toaddress the drug demand problem by adopting the Declaration on the GuidingPrinciples of Drug Demand Reduction, the problem continues to pose a seriousthreat to the individual drug abuser and to the society as a whole.It is the Danish Government’s view that the drug demand problem should beaddressed by continuing efforts to maintain and extend existing prevention,treatment and harm reduction measures while – at the same time – new measuresaimed at reducing the problem are developed.The Danish Government has put a lot of effort into improving the existing measuresboth quantitatively and qualitatively. We have also developed a number of newmeasures. Right now we are making the last preparations for the introduction ofmedical prescription of heroine for some of the most marginalized individuals in oursociety.I would like to stress that in the process of developing new measures, it is essentialto take into thorough consideration the fundamental principles of the internationaldrug control system.Thank you, Mr Chairman.