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Reykjavik Child Welfare director: Teen drinking and cannabis use rising
🇮🇸 Iceland /Crime & Justice

Reykjavik Child Welfare director: Teen drinking and cannabis use rising

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • The director of Reykjavik's Child Welfare agency reports a significant increase in alcohol and cannabis consumption among primary school-aged youth.
  • This trend is attributed to a perceived relaxation in preventative measures, leading to younger children engaging in substance use.
  • Authorities are calling for immediate intervention and a renewed focus on prevention programs involving parents, schools, and the community.

Reykjavik's Child Welfare agency is observing a concerning rise in both alcohol and cannabis use among children as young as primary school age, according to its director, Þyrí Halla Steingrímsdóttir.

We see this in the cases we handle and in cases at the centers. We notice there is an increase.

— Þyrí Halla SteingrímsdóttirDirector of Child Welfare in Reykjavik, commenting on the rise in substance use among youth.

"We see this in the cases we handle and in cases at the centers. We notice there is an increase," Steingrímsdóttir told mbl.is. She believes this shift is linked to a relaxation in preventative efforts. Previously, such substance use was more common among high school students, but now it appears to be descending to younger age groups, a phenomenon not seen for years.

I think it is the feeling of most people in the system that this is moving back down to primary school age in recent years. There must have been a relaxation in prevention.

— Þyrí Halla SteingrímsdóttirExplaining the perceived cause for the increase in underage substance use.

Iceland experienced a significant problem with youth drinking about 30 to 40 years ago, nearly holding a European record. The issue later shifted to high schoolers, which was considered somewhat acceptable. However, Steingrímsdóttir and others in the system feel the trend is reversing, with primary school children increasingly involved.

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Police reported intervening with numerous children and teenagers during Reykjavik Culture Night last Saturday, pouring down significant amounts of alcohol. This incident has fueled widespread discussion, with most agreeing the problem is resurfacing. Steingrímsdóttir emphasized the need for a new initiative and stricter prevention measures, urging the involvement of parents and the wider community in prevention efforts and dialogue. "When we get to the point of dealing with cases, they are of course very serious and advanced," she noted, referring to child welfare services, but stressed, "We need to intervene immediately."

We need to intervene immediately.

— Þyrí Halla SteingrímsdóttirUrging swift action to address the growing problem of youth substance abuse.
About this summary

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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