Minister advocates swift action on opioid misuse

Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard is concerned that Denmark might only see the ‘tip of a very large iceberg’ with regard to opioid issues and insists on early political intervention rather than waiting for evidence in reports. He cautions based on insights from other European countries, the USA, and local observations within Denmark. The government plans to present a proposal before the summer vacation, with measures targeting health authorities, police, and prosecution services, as well as local solutions for street-level issues. Toxicity assessments in Denmark highlight ‘very high’ danger from opioids and ‘high’ danger from stimulants like cocaine and amphetamine. While current data does not indicate a significant opioid crisis in Denmark, Hummelgaard recognizes an increase in illicit opioid misuse among youth and an alarming rate of opioid-related deaths, suggesting the problem might be much greater than realized.