de Boer, Rasmus Normann

Frederiksen, Asgar Bo

Pedersen, Mads Rumle

Rau-Andersen, Philip Georg

In this paper, we use Howard Becker’s studies of deviance to examine how formal and informal rules of drug use in Denmark create outsiders and look into the consequences that follow. Subsequently, the paper probes into whether and how NGOs can influence these rules in Denmark through the Eu-ropean Union (EU) governance on drugs. Through qualitative studies, namely interviews, it is the aspiration to understand the rules, and the ensuing enforcement of them, which label the Danish drug users as deviants. The former is put in relation to the work of Danish NGOs to parse into their work and aspirations, and hence, examine whether there is any room for them to manoeuvre and promote these aspirations in the EU governance structure on drug-related politics. Our analysis of EU govern-ance on drug policy will depart from the theory of multi-level governance and the “EU Drugs Strategy 2021-2025”. The potential impact of the cooperation between NGOs and the EU on Danish rules on drug use is analysed through the concept of Europeanization. The paper finds that the systemic and normative creation of drug users as outsiders, and the consequences thereof, are still problematic and that local non-state actors in Denmark are fighting for socio-cultural change. We conclude that the EU governance on drugs and the EU strategy on drugs provide the opportunity for NGOs to influence drug policy in Denmark through the EU, however, the normative view on drug use in Denmark re-mains a barrier for real change and the social processes of the EU are insufficient in overcoming it

Psychoactive substance users as outsiders: The struggle of NGOs for socio-cultural change through the European Union

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