A new report from the University of Copenhagen provides seven recommendations for what the Municipality of Copenhagen should focus on in the effort against young people's use of opioids - among other things, through information campaigns at eye level with the young people. (Archive photo). Photo: Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix
Campaign to deter youth opioid glamorization
A new report from Copenhagen’s Criminology Center advises targeted campaigns to address the growing romanticization of opioids among youth. Henrik Vigh, the center leader, notes that young people are informed about opioids through social media and music that often glamorize usage. The report, based on interviews with young users and a survey indicating 2.7% of young adults have used opioids or benzodiazepines, offers seven recommendations for Copenhagen’s anti-opioid initiatives. Vigh emphasizes the need for authentic campaigns on relevant platforms without talking down to the youth. Past hesitance for such campaigns stemmed from fears of inadvertently normalizing drug use.