Drug test eight times in two years - was innocent

"Johan" is one of the young people who according to the police showed signs of drug influence. He lives in the Stockholm area and wants to be anonymous.

- I got pissed eight times in two years. All tests were negative, but apparently it was enough to have baggy pants or something else that could be associated with the "hip-hop style" to be taken. They presumed that they were smoking if they were graffiti.

How did it feel?

"In the end, it was ridiculous, I have an old judgment for harm, but this is pure harassment," he says.

40 percent of police urine tests on minors are negative. This shows statistics from the Swedish Forensic Medicines Agency that SVT has taken part in. In 2019, over 4,000 people under 18 were tested. Thus, over 1,600 of these samples were negative.

Mats Löfving, head of the National Police Department, NOA, still defends the testing.

- We have a system where we look for signs of drug effects, for example on the eyes. Often it can be difficult to make that assessment for young people, but in each case we should be prepared to tell in what way we built up the suspicions in this case.

But you can't be so good at making these assessments if about half of the samples are wrong?

- We must have a special, concrete suspicion. And we have and we are prepared to account for the suspicion in each case.

But the police's methods are criticized. Markus Heilig, professor of psychiatry and drug addiction expert, thinks the tactics are counterproductive.

- One of the most important efforts the police can make is to create confidence in the areas where drug use is very common, and to identify young people who are about to be marginalized and become available for the attractiveness of organized gangs. The police need to make sure they feel more connected to society, not less. And the last thing to do then is to chase them for drug use and take urine samples.

Mats Löfving, head of NOA, does not agree with the criticism.

- I have great respect for the professor, but I have a different view. We support young addicts and our efforts help them to get social support quickly.

Search: Are you young and have experience in drug testing? Are you a police officer and have your views? Feel free to contact us.