Hooks for drugs are growing - seven new hooks are joining

The collaboration project Krogar against narcotics started in 2005 in Karlstad. Then there were five taverns participating. But now another seven players are joining and it is welcomed by the police.

- It's one of our tentacles into this environment that we know is frequented by people who have problems as guests, and since then it has been quite exposed to those who work there. So from a knowledge perspective where we create a situation, this is one of several important factors, says Mattias Forssten, who is area police officer.

Hooks for drugs is a collaborative project between the municipality, the police and the taverns. The collaboration means everything from the employees at the pubs to drug testing to the tavern staff informing the police about suspicious activities in the tavern environment.

- At the pub everyone should be able to be welcomed, of all ages, and an environment where drugs are present is often very scary, so we do not want that, says Eva Palm, who represents Lion bar, one of the pubs that now joins Krogar against drugs.

What effect do you think this gives?

- The direct effect is that people in this industry who are dealing with drugs are less likely to come to our pub, which is of course positive. After all, the long-term effect is being able to help people who have a drug problem get back on track, says Eva Palm.

Isn't there a risk that it will be counterproductive then, that those who are on drugs know that these taverns are not the right place and hang somewhere else?

- Well, that's the drug problem at large that you describe. For us, it is about chasing, interfering, preventing, discovering those who are abusive for the primary purpose of getting them onto the track to stop. They will definitely move on but then we will follow, says Mattias Forssten at the police.