The content of the legislation on social care enacted in 1982 (SHL) was replaced by that of 2014 (1301), and was intended to strengthen the position of the legislation on social care as a vital piece of jurisprudence. While there has long been contemplation of the legislation on the prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug related problems, the legislative trend may be said to be more towards legislation at the level of general legislation such as SHL. In the interpretation of the law and in legal consideration, attention is paid to the worker implementing it. Social work assumes a significant and ethically oriented role in providing clients with services. According to the new legislation, means are also available to improve the position of the clients of substance abuse services. The project is concerned with how the new concepts and practices contained in the SHL legislation, such as clients in special need of support (3. §), own worker (45. §) or decisions ensuring care and protection (46. §), are recognised and used in practical social work in the case of substance abuse clients. The research also seeks to elucidate how social workers feel these tools affect their substance abuse clients’ situations and rights.
