"Motsatsen till relativism... stavas absolutism" : En kritisk diskursanalys av LVM i svensk nyhetspress

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study have been to examine how lagen (1988:870) om vård av missbrukare i vissa fall [LVM] (involuntary treatment for addicts) is constructed in Swedish news press and what discourses are being produced regarding LVM and involuntary treatment. Out of the 195 articles that fit the search criteria, extending a period of ten years, 36 were selected and analyzed, using a critical discourse analysis according to the three-dimensional model proposed by Fairclough. The theoretical perspective derives from the hypothesis of social constructionism. This study shows that LVM is subject to a silent assumption of an economic constraints discourse that´s being produced in news press, regarding the shortage of funds in public sector. In turn, this discourse also exhibits close relationship with the greater addiction discourse, which deems drug- and alcohol abuse as sickness, or disease. Furthermore, a set of minor discourses are identified, that to some degree stems from the economic constraints discourse. The media depiction presents an ongoing medicalization process that in social practice results in a higher death rate among drug abusers. The notion that medicinal treatment of addiction is more cost effective than LVM, nonetheless spurs society in adding evermore medicinal treatment of addicts.