Copenhagen's progressive but unresolved drug policies 

Copenhagen is often said to be a global model for progressive drug policies with its combination of law enforcement and harm-reduction services. Law enforcement has been steadily increasing in Copenhagen, specifically in the closure of Christinia’s Pusher Street, where drugs would be sold and gangs would be present. 

Copenhagen local, Christian Hansen, thinks that the end of Pusher Street has caused more problems for Copenhagen,

“[the problem is] they are still selling just at different spots. At least Pusher Street was controlled by the people who lived there, and not by the police. It was illegal but it was more secure.” 

Harm-reduction services are a priority for the city, providing consumption rooms such as H17, the largest consumption room in the world. Brugernes Akademi is a non-profit organisation that work to create reduce harm for drug users and to inform politicians and the public of the experiences drug users go through.

Project leader of Brugernes Akademi, Jonas Demant, believes that although Denmark is progressive when it comes to drug policy, there is still much more to be done.

“We still have vulnerable people in the area who are scared to ask for help,” he says. “Mothers are scared to get help as their children could be taken away from them. Internationals in Denmark are scared as they could be deported for seeking help with addiction.”

 This article is for people interested in social policies and want more information on Denmark's approach to drug policies. It could be published by The Guardian.