Sales of psychotropic drugs in the nordic countries

The consumption of psychotropic drugs in Finland, Ndrway and Sweden in the 1960s and 1970s were estimated from the available sales statistics. When measured by DDD (defined daily dose) the sales have shown a rapid increase in Norway, a little increase in Finland, and in Sweden an increase in the 1960's, but a rapid decrease in the 1970's. Each year the sales were usually highest in Sweden and lowest in Norway, but the differences between the countries became smaller with time, and in 1977 the sales were quite close. Sales of psychotropic substances in hidden psychotropic drugs were more common in Finland than in Norway or Sweden. The differing trends with time and the differences between the countries pose many questions about therapeutic practices in these countries.