NordAN has accepted an invitation to become a collaborating partner of the Barcelona Forum on Drugs 2027. Peter Moilanen and Lauri Beekmann will represent the network on the Advisory Committee.

A new Swedish government inquiry concludes that the retail monopoly and alcohol tax remain central tools for reducing alcohol related harm and protecting public health.

A new report from Folkhälsomyndigheten shows that drug use continues to fall among young people in Sweden, while levels among adults remain stable. Drug-related deaths are decreasing, but drug seizures are rising, pointing to increasing availability.

Everyone can play a role for children and young people growing up with an adult who drinks too much. The awareness week “Play a role” takes place on 9 to 15 February 2026 and includes digital seminars and local activities.

Swedish Customs presented its seizure statistics for 2025 at a press briefing by the Öresund Bridge on 5 February, highlighting a sharp increase in seizures of hard drugs and the scale of smuggling pressure facing Sweden.

State funding for the EPT network, which coordinates NGO cooperation in preventive substance use work, will end in 2026, despite growing substance-related harms and broad opposition from civil society organisations.

Even small amounts of alcohol weaken sleep quality, while binge drinking can disturb sleep for several days. Professor Solja Niemelä highlights that alcohol has no safe use limit and is not a health product. She also calls for routine low threshold conversations about alcohol use in health and social services.

Latvia has launched a pilot project to build an integrated care pathway for minors with drug related mental and behavioural disorders. A unique multidisciplinary team at the Children’s Hospital, extended motivation programmes and cooperation with social and law enforcement services aim to ensure continuous support beyond acute treatment. Since the project began, 107 minors have received structured clinical and social assessments.

The third Monday in January is often called “the worst day of the year”, but Av-og-til says the health benefits of White January still matter, even if you slipped for a weekend.

Norway has launched overdosefare.no, a national digital alert system designed to warn when high-risk drugs are circulating and help prevent overdoses through rapid information-sharing and coordinated preparedness.

Latvia plans to remove criminal liability for drug use by minors, while Estonia is preparing penal code reforms to direct users toward treatment instead of prison and strengthen prosecution of dealers. The developments signal a wider Baltic move toward evidence based drug policy focused on health, prevention, and harm reduction.

Icelandic prevention organisations say the current debate on alcohol policy should be grounded in facts, including a long-running police case on online alcohol sales that is now before the courts.

A survey conducted shortly before Christmas found that 29 percent of Danes were considering a “hvid januar” (alcohol-free January) in 2026. Dagrofa also reports a 20 percent year-on-year rise in sales of alcohol-free alternatives in the weeks before Christmas.

More than one third of Norwegians who drink alcohol are considering or planning an alcohol-free month in 2026. A new survey from Blå Kors shows that interest is strongest among younger people, driven mainly by health-related motivations.

A Verian survey commissioned by EHYT ry shows that Tipaton January often carries on beyond January. 81 percent of participants said they drank less alcohol in February as well, and only 15 percent had returned to their previous level of drinking.

IOGT Norge says the football World Cup should not be used as a political tool to push for more liberal alcohol rules. The organisation argues that municipalities can already grant time limited exemptions, without weakening the alcohol law.

Cocaine use has increased sharply in Finland, following a wider European trend of higher availability and record seizures. EHYT warns that falling prices may expose more vulnerable groups, and stresses the need for low-threshold, anonymous support, including during holiday periods.

Nearly eight in ten Swedes believe it is common for adults to become intoxicated around children during Christmas. New survey data from Systembolaget, together with rising call volumes to Bris, highlights how adults’ drinking continues to affect children during the holidays.

Piia Koivumäki’s new philosophy dissertation argues that addiction should be understood as a holistic, lived phenomenon shaped by brain chemistry, personal agency, and life situations. Broadening the lens can reduce stigma and support earlier access to help.

A new CAN report shows that drug experience among Swedish school students continues to fall, especially among boys. Tobacco, nicotine and early vaping remain widespread, and gambling among boys is still at a high level despite a small drop this year.