High time for a new drug debate

SARA UDE HASLE, County leader Vestfold Socialist Youth

In June 2021, the Labor Party, the Conservative Party and the Progressive Party voted down the much-discussed drug reform.

On Tuesday this week, FpU leader Simen Velle said that in 2018 he received a summons and later a sentence for possession of 100 grams of marijuana.

Now it is high time for a new drug debate in Norway.

Despite the fact that Velle receives support for being open about a drug conviction, this is unfortunately not the reality for everyone.

Velle himself says he is glad he received a 30-day conditional sentence, and not a harsher sentence.

Party leader in FrP, Sylvi Listhaug says to NRK that “everyone should get a second chance”, but who is “everyone”?

Is “everyone” a collective term for “absolutely everyone who has done something unwise”, or “everyone who thinks the same as me?”.

When young people become intoxicated, it is often about mental illness and alienation.

Then there is little to suggest that stricter punishments have a dampening effect, thus making the pain worse.

The problem today is that we have a failed prevention policy, a support system that is too poor, a school health service that is inadequate, and too few external contacts who meet young people where they are.

Prevention is about creating a safe upbringing for children.

The main aim is to help people, especially young people, to avoid or postpone the use of drugs, and to help those who have already started to avoid developing drug addiction.

Then we need a strong community.

Norway has to follow the UN standard on drug prevention with the decriminalization of drug use.

We must give young people intoxicated a better and functioning support system. By removing the risk of punishment, it will be easier to accept help.

The experience of belonging to a place is important for all of us, and it is especially important for children and young people.

Activity offers for children and young people are one of the best activities you can have to gain a social network and prevent substance abuse.

This is a way to embrace broadly and which will hit many people with different challenges.

This is what Norway’s drug prevention policy should be based on.

Openness and honesty help to remove stigma and shame around people who use drugs.

It helps to normalize discussions about addiction and mental health, which is necessary when four out of ten say they have refused to call an ambulance in the event of an overdose.

We will never have a society where no one uses drugs.

Now it’s about getting a prevention that works.

FrP’s drug policy is harmful.

The solution to today’s drug problem is not stricter punishments as Listhaug and FrP want.

Prevention and help are the solutions.