The Finnish Association for Substance Abuse Prevention EHYT has launched the Network for Preventive Substance Abuse Work. It includes the 35 most important Finnish expert organisations focusing on preventive substance abuse work. The network was launched in 2012 and it combines resources for efficient work. The goal is a society with more well-being and less substances.

The network aims to

• promote work for stronger social influence

• make citizens’ voices heard

• find synergies

• share information

• provide a forum for discussion

• eliminate overlaps

• support small organisations

• improve cost-efficiency

• strengthen a collective culture of preventive substance abuse work

• improve the quality of preventive substance abuse work and increase its appreciation.
   

Even though it is a young organisation launched in 2012, EHYT has quickly found its place. The stakeholder questionnaire carried out after the first year of operations indicated that the organisation has become a popular partner for co-operation.  EHYT works with children, adolescents and working-age and ageing population. The organisation works mainly on the collective (schools, workplaces) and individual levels. However, advocacy work on alcohol policy has become emphasised in the organisation’s public profile, which is not completely attributable to the organisation itself. In its work, EHYT aims to reduce harm caused by alcohol, tobacco, drugs and gambling. As for alcohol, EHYT is aiming for a 20 per cent reduction in total consumption. This would mean returning approximately to the level of the mid-1990s and the current level of Sweden, for example.