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.

At its General Assembly in Riga, Latvia, on 13 November 2025, NordAN adopted two resolutions on drug policy and alcohol-related health taxes. They call for a prevention-first EU drug strategy and for using alcohol tax revenues to protect prevention and civil society.

NordAN turns 25 as we meet in Riga to look honestly at policy under stress. Budgets are tight, politics shifts, industry pushes, and mental health needs grow. We will compare what holds and what fails, learn from other countries, get ideas, and find contact points. The gap between international promises and national action is real. Our task is to describe it clearly and improve interventions that protect people.

A new report from the Swedish Drug Policy Center argues that drug prevention is not only a public health issue but a human right - especially for children. Released alongside an op-ed in Göteborgs-Posten, the report highlights rising cannabis use among parents in Canada and criticises the global drug policy debate for sidelining prevention in favor of legalization narratives.

Norway’s government has reached a cross-party agreement on the second part of its prevention and treatment reform, keeping drug use illegal while introducing simplified fines for minor offences. Youth under 18 will be referred to advisory units instead. Actis welcomes the move, calling it a step toward more effective and predictable drug policy.

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.

Nordic experts stress the need for evidence-based, public health-focused drug policies to counter rising global legalization trends.

Join us at the NordAN Oslo Conference to explore vital alcohol and drug policy topics, learn from experts, and shape the future together.