– There is increased concern about the use of drugs in youth environments. It has been done before as well, but what we think is worrying now is the use of cocaine, says Geir Oustorp.
He is a police officer in the preventive section at the police in Drammen, and believes the use of cocaine has become more normalized among young people in recent years.
– Many series and movies show successful people who use this here, and you may not see the reverse side of using drugs as often. I think it has done its part to make it more used in the youth environments in Norway, says Oustorp.
Multiple deaths
The most recent figures from the National Institute of Public Health’s statistics bank are from 2020. At that time, the figures showed that deaths due to poisoning accidents with stimulants – such as cocaine, MDMA / ecstasy and amphetamine – have almost tripled in recent years.
In 2016, there were ten such deaths, while the number had risen to 18 in 2018. By 2020, the number had reached 27.
– We have had such overdose deaths in our district, and it is just as heartbreaking every time, Oustorp says.
Because while backers outside the country’s borders make money, the consequences can be fatal for Norwegian youth who experiment with drugs.
– CONCERNED: Police officer Geir Oustorp fears increased use of stronger drugs could lead to more drug-related deaths among young people. Photo: Stein Akre / TV 2
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– When you take MDMA, GHB or LSD, you do not know what you are getting. Then you can get everything from rat poison to caustic soda, he says.
The police officer is afraid that the increased normalization could have tragic consequences.
– We are very worried about the youth, and that we will have more deaths because they have used drugs.
– Several say no
On Wednesday last week, Oslo City Council decided to introduce a kind of local drug reform, which means that those who are reported by the police for use and possession of drugs for their own use will be met with help, rather than punishment.
A clarification letter from The Attorney General last year has already limited punitive measures and coercive measures by the police. Oustorp fears it may facilitate increased drug use among young people.
– One of the best tools the police used before this was urine contracts, he says.
This means that young people who have been caught using illegal drugs do not receive fines, but must submit pure drug samples to the police for a certain period.
Now this method is almost not in use, because the police no longer create a case when young people are caught intoxicated.
– It will be a health challenge to be taken through the GP, and then it will be more voluntary and without coercion. Then there will also be more people who say no, says Oustorp.
– This has made it more difficult for the young people. We agree that young people should not be punished, but helped. But we should have some aids so young people feel that taking drugs is not so wise – and I’m worried because we do not have.
Fear aggravation
Also at crime prevention sections for Asker, Bærum and Majorstua in Oslo, there is a perception that there is an increasing incidence of heavier drug use among young people.
– We have received some signals that there is an increasing trend when it comes to the use of hard drugs, says Russian contact at the section, Kenneth Wessel.
Last year’s Ungdata survey showed that among the young people in Oslo, eleven per cent of the boys in the third upper secondary class had used drugs other than alcohol and marijuana – for example cocaine, MDMA, ecstasy or amphetamine. Six percent of the girls stated the same.
– FEARS CHANGE: Russia chief Kenneth Wessel fears a new survey will reveal increased use of strong, illegal drugs among young people. Photo: Aleksander Myklebust / TV 2
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The same survey for Bærum and Asker was conducted this year, and the figures will be ready during the summer.
– I fear that it will show a clear change from 2019, which was when it was last implemented, Wessel says.
Like Oustorp, he perceives that film, TV and role models influence young people’s views on drugs.
– It is general influence from society, sports stars, Hollywood and NRK productions that makes drug use safer and more common, he says.
Also the Russians themselves have advanced The NRK series Exit as a contributor to the normalization of cocaine use.
– Has a normalizing effect
Leader of Safer Drug Policy, Ina Roll Spinnangr, reacts strongly to police statements. She believes it is a failed claim that the drug reform has contributed to increased use of heavier drugs among young people.
– Why should a reform that crashed a year ago, lead to increased drug use now? Use among young people has not even increased in countries that have decriminalized, says Spinnangr.
– RESPONDS: Ina Roll Spinnangr believes the police’s presentation of the problem is normalizing. Photo: Pernille Sandberg / Safer Drug Policy
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She believes that it is the police’s portrayal of young people’s drug use that helps to form a picture that the problem is more widespread than it is.
– On the other hand, one should consider how lucky it is that the police go out in the media and say that drugs have become common among young people. This gives a false impression and has a normalizing effect.
No free flow of cocaine
In 2021, 11.4 per cent of all people aged 25–34 answered that they had used cocaine before. For the age group 16–24, 4.5 per cent answered the same, according to figures from NIPH.
In the same survey, 2.9 per cent in the youngest age group answered that they had used cocaine during the past year.
According to Spinnangr, the figures are not worryingly high compared to before, and she believes there must be talk of under-reporting if the police’s allegations are correct.
– One can wonder where the police get it from that cocaine flows freely when only three percent of young people had used cocaine in the last year last year, she says, and refers to FHI’s survey.
Believes police violated human rights
Lawyer and specialist in Safer Drug Policy, Dagfinn Hessen Paust, also strikes hard at the police’s concern about fewer cases being created.
– The reason why the police create fewer cases is that they previously used methods that violate human rights to obtain incriminating evidence. Now that they have had to stop, many cases cannot be resolved without a confession, says Paust.
– DISAGREE: Paust disagrees with the police’s claims, and believes a drug reform is the solution to the problem. Photo: Pernille Sandberg
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According to him, there is a simple solution to the problem – a drug reform that decriminalizes.
– Only decriminalization can give them back the opportunity to solve cases, but this does not seem to understand.
Erik about reality participants: – They take cocaine, get drunk and are violent
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