New study on young people’s use of non-prescribed opioids in Denmark

The report explores the pathways into and out of opioid use among Danish youth. It provides a detailed account of how young people encounter opioids in their everyday life, the circumstances of their introduction to these substances, what they use them for, and their experiences in seeking help. Further, the report highlights how to improve prevention and treatment efforts aimed at addressing opioid use among youth.

Paths into and out of opioid use

For most young people, opioids are first introduced in social settings by friends and acquaintances, often those with whom they have previously shared other illicit substances. Initially, opioids are perceived as relatively safe, largely due to their association with medical prescriptions and the recommendations of peers. This perception often leads to an underestimation of the risk associated with opioid use. However, many relatively quickly transition from occasional to frequent use, resulting in dependence and a range of adverse consequences such as health complications, social isolation, and financial strain. These pressures may drive some individuals to sell drugs as a means of financing their own use or managing debt.

Understanding youth opioid use: functions, barriers, and treatment challenges

The report highlights the many functions opioids serve for Danish youth, including coping with emotional- and mental health problems, mood regulation, recreational use, and enhancing academic or professional performance. Further, the report identifies four categories of opioid users that may alter and overlap:

• early drug-experimenting and risk-taking youth,
• socially stable but drug-experimenting and risk-taking youth,
• young people with significant psychological and/or social challenges, and
• socially stable young people

These categories are closely linked to the users’ personal circumstances and social environments.

The report also underscores barriers to seeking help. A common pattern is that most young people attempt to quit opioid use on their own, sometimes experiencing several relapses before seeking help through municipal drug treatment. A major barrier is the fear of stigma and the perception that drug treatment services are primarily for older, more socially vulnerable individuals.

Young people who use opioids constitute a relatively new and challenging target group for treatment providers, raising significant dilemmas, particularly regarding the use of medically assisted treatment. For young people who have used opioids for self-medication or coping with psychological distress, these underlying issues often resurface during treatment. However, treatment can provide an opportunity to address these root causes.

Opioid use – a global and national concern

The report’s findings align with Swedish research, highlighting shared challenges in addressing opioid use among youth across the Nordic region. The relatively low prices and easy access to opioids facilitated by social media platforms and the dark web, exacerbate these challenges.

The report emphasizes the importance of early prevention and targeted interventions, stressing that key social contexts for Danish youth – such as families, schools, and healthcare providers – must be equipped with the information and tools necessary to recognize risk behavior and intervene effectively. To mitigate the severe consequences of opioid use, the report calls for de-stigmatizing opioid dependence, launching public awareness campaigns, fostering open dialogue, and expanding access to treatment.

The article is written by

Maj Nygaard-Christensen, associate professor, Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus University

Birgitte Thylstrup, associate professor, Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus University

Esben Houborg, associate professor, Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus University

on the request of PopNAD.