Hundreds of thousands of children in Sweden grow up in families affected by addiction or harmful substance use, but only a fraction receive help from municipalities. According to Junis’s new report, over 260,000 children may need support, yet just one percent received any assistance in 2024. The organization urges stronger collaboration and political responsibility to ensure vulnerable children get timely help.

Norwegians' greatest fear in traffic is encountering intoxicated drivers, with 10,848 drivers reported for impaired driving in 2024—an average of 30 per day. Intoxication is the cause of one in five fatal accidents on Norwegian roads, and experts warn that the actual numbers are likely much higher due to significant underreporting. Surveys show that 76% of Norwegians rank drunk drivers as their top concern in traffic.

Four in ten Swedes would drink less alcohol if they knew that even small amounts increase the risk of cancer, according to a new survey by Verian. However, only one in ten are aware of this link, and nearly 90% do not know that alcohol raises the risk of breast cancer. Research shows there is no safe threshold—any amount of alcohol can increase cancer risk, and the more you drink, the higher the risk.

Alcohol, drugs, and suicides are the leading causes of premature years of life lost in Finland, resulting in an annual financial loss of €8.35 billion. Alcohol alone is the top cause nationwide and in many regions, while other regions see suicide, drugs, or ischemic heart diseases as the main causes. The latest data highlight significant regional disparities and stress the importance of targeted preventive efforts.

A new European study shows that Danish ninth-grade students continue to lead in alcohol consumption, drinking more and starting earlier than their peers in other countries. Nearly 70 percent have consumed alcohol in the past month, and over half have engaged in binge drinking. While there is a slight decline in youth alcohol use, Denmark’s levels remain the highest in Europe, according to the ESPAD survey.

In many European countries, alcohol has become increasingly affordable, contributing to high consumption and significant health harms. WHO/Europe has released a report and toolkit to help governments use taxation and pricing policies to reduce alcohol-related harm. With clear evidence showing that even small tax increases can save lives and raise revenues, the tools offer practical guidance for action.

MHF demands an end to driving license revocation for addiction, advocating for prescribed alcohol interlocks instead. They argue this improves road safety, as revoking licenses for those with alcohol abuse often leads to continued unlicensed driving. MHF urges the Swedish Transport Agency and doctors to be able to prescribe interlocks, citing research and a potential EU directive change supporting this for individuals with alcohol dependence if an interlock is used.

A new survey by Ipsos for Av-og-til shows that 4 in 10 Norwegians have seen intoxicated adults with children on May 17 in the past two years. The findings vary across counties, with Oslo at 50%. Av-og-til urges adults to be mindful of their alcohol use on Norway’s national day, which should remain a joyful celebration for children.

New data from Blå Kors shows a sharp rise in cocaine use among patients, increasing from 28% in 2022 to 37% in 2024. One in four Norwegian youths now consider cocaine as common as alcohol at parties. Blå Kors warns that combining cocaine with alcohol can be highly dangerous and lead to serious health risks.

The Finnish Mental Health Policy Advisory Board urges the government to assess the mental health impacts of proposed changes to alcohol and gambling laws. With regulation being eased and harm risks increasing, the board stresses the need for prevention, support services, and earmarked funding to address rising challenges, especially among youth.

IOGT-NTO welcomes the proposal for a Swedish lobby register as a step toward greater transparency but warns it risks being ineffective if key meetings are excluded. “Citizens have the right to know who influences our decisions,” says president Lucas Nilsson.

Sweden’s new report on drug prices shows that despite global disruptions since 2020, street and wholesale prices for drugs have not increased. Adjusted for inflation, prices have actually declined, indicating high availability and a resilient drug market.

The Finnish *Pidä kiinni®* treatment model helps parents with substance use disorders and their babies build safer, healthier lives together. A nationwide study shows it improves parent-child interaction and family well-being. Despite proven effectiveness and major societal savings, the program lost state funding in 2025, putting its future at risk.

The Finnish government’s mid-term budget increases alcohol and nicotine taxes but imposes severe funding cuts to health organizations. EHYT warns this jeopardizes critical public health and substance abuse prevention, urging targeted investment from tax revenues to protect vulnerable communities.

IOGT-NTO urges a no-vote on farm sales of alcohol to protect public health. Introducing farm sales would gamble with people's lives and health, undermining Sweden's strongest protection against alcohol's harmful effects. Systembolaget saves 1,500 lives annually by limiting availability and profit interests.

A Finnish government report evaluates expanding wine sales beyond Alko’s monopoly, outlining benefits such as consumer choice and risks including increased alcohol harms. Alko emphasizes maintaining the Nordic retail model, citing significant public health impacts and broad public support for its current system.

On April 10, the Norwegian government presented Part II of its prevention and treatment reform in the field of drug policy. The proposed legislation addresses the criminal and procedural aspects of the reform, aiming to ensure that individuals with serious and long-term drug problems are not punished for their illness. At the same time, the government maintains that drug use should remain illegal to prevent initiation, particularly among youth.

Risky drinking among young men in Sweden has halved in 20 years, while it’s rising among those over 45—especially older women.

Signs of alcohol harm found in 1 in 20 children in Swedish pilot study—suggesting fetal exposure may be more common than assumed.

EHYT urges the Finnish government to rethink substance and gambling policy: more prevention, less availability, and fairer taxation.