Stockholm Survey: Drug Use Down, But Girls' Mental Health Declines

A comprehensive survey conducted in Stockholm reveals a mixed picture of youth well-being, highlighting positive trends in reduced drug use alongside persistent concerns about mental health. The Stockholm Survey, which has tracked the lives of young people since the 1970s, involved 37,744 students from ninth grade and the second year of high school across the Stockholm region. The results indicate that drug use among these age groups has fallen to its lowest levels since the survey began.

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This is a trend that we are not succeeding in reversing.

Jonas Melinder, a development manager at the County Administrative Board of Stockholm, noted that despite societal signals of increased drug accessibility and affordability, this trend is not reflected among the surveyed youth. The use of nitrous oxide has also significantly decreased, nearly to the point of cessation. However, the survey also points to an increase in alcohol consumption, particularly among high school-aged girls, who report drinking to intoxication more frequently than before.

Kajsa Lönn Rhodin from the County Administrative Board's social development unit expressed concern over the persistent issue of poor mental health among girls. A substantial number of girls report experiencing anxiety and depression. More than half of the girls surveyed indicated feeling very or extremely stressed by schoolwork, a stark contrast to approximately a quarter of the boys. This disparity in mental well-being is a trend that authorities are struggling to reverse.

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There are signals from various parts of society that drugs are more accessible, cheaper, and closer to people's everyday lives. But that is not something we see among those in ninth grade and the second year of high school.

While the survey identifies several contributing factors, including the potential impact of social media and its associated pressures and unattainable ideals on girls, the exact causes remain under investigation. Alexander Ojanne, the Vice Mayor for Social and Security Affairs in Stockholm, voiced his concern about the rising alcohol consumption among young people, emphasizing the city's responsibility to implement policies that discourage underage drinking.

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Call me a boring councilor, but I think we have a responsibility to pursue policies that reduce drinking among young people.