The Suchtmittelgesetz (SMG; ''Narcotic Substances Law'') is the controlled-substances law of
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
, being passed in its current form in 1998 after the accession of the country to the European Union. It is a modification of the earlier Suchtgiftverordnung of 1951, and like the
Betäubungsmittelgesetz
The Betäubungsmittelgesetz (BtMG), generally meaning Narcotics Law, is the controlled substances law of Germany. In common with the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1971 of the United Kingdom and Controlled Substances Acts of the US and Canada, it is a con ...
(BtMG) of Germany, the BtMG of Switzerland, the Controlled Substances Act of Canada and the United States, the Misuse Of Drugs Act of the UK and other such laws, is a consolidation of earlier laws and an implementation of international treaty obligations, such as the
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs
The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 (Single Convention, 1961 Convention, or C61) is an Treaty, international treaty that controls activities (cultivation, production, supply, trade, transport) of specific narcotic drugs and lays down ...
.
Suchtmittel and Betäubungsmittel are somewhat different concepts; the latter are drugs which numb, namely narcotics like morphine, whilst Suchtmittel and Suchtgiften are drugs which cause a morbid seek orientation for their use in the user, therefore poisoning or corrupting the individual sense of initiative and concern for other matters.
The SMG brought Austrian narcotics law into line with the prevailing standards in the European Union, which Austria joined in 1995. Some vestiges of the 1951 SVV and earlier laws remain in place, such as local and provincial regulations dealing with registry and permit programmes for those dependent on narcotics including chronic pain patients and long-term unsupervised users of narcotics and the over the counter availability of
codeine
Codeine is an opiate and prodrug of morphine mainly used to treat pain, coughing, and diarrhea. It is also commonly used as a recreational drug. It is found naturally in the sap of the opium poppy, ''Papaver somniferum''. It is typically use ...
,
dihydrocodeine
Dihydrocodeine is a semi-synthetic opioid analgesic prescribed for pain or severe dyspnea, or as an antitussive, either alone or compounded with paracetamol (acetaminophen) (as in co-dydramol) or aspirin. It was developed in Germany in 1908 ...
,
nicocodeine
Nicocodeine (Lyopect, Tusscodin) is an opioid analgesic and cough suppressant, an ester of codeine closely related to dihydrocodeine and the codeine analogue of nicomorphine. It is not commonly used in most countries, but has activity similar to ...
and similar drugs including some in other chemical/pharmaco-neurological categories.
Law of Austria
Drug control law
Drug policy by country
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