Young Copenhageners’ use of illegal opioids and benzodiazepines
When health authorities and counseling centers noted rising opioid use among young Danes, the Health and Care Administration and the Criminological Observatory collaborated on a project focusing on young Copenhageners' use of illegal opioids and benzodiazepines. The aim was to understand the contexts and motivations for youth drug use, and to better prepare adults to manage and prevent substance abuse.
One of the ongoing focuses of the Criminological Observatory is the increasing use of illegal opioids and benzodiazepines among young people in Denmark and other European countries. In the beginning of 2024, this included a collaborative project with the Health and Care Administration.
The goal was to explore the contexts and motivations for young people aged 15 to 21 using illegal opioids and benzodiazepines, and to better prepare adults to manage and prevent substance abuse.
Opioids are substances that bind to opioid receptors in the central nervous system, providing pain relief, while benzodiazepines are psychoactive drugs used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Both types are prescription medications and include tramadol, oxycodone, codeine, morphine, heroin, fentanyl, and nitazenes, as well as specific brands like Dolol, OxyContin, and Xanax.
The research project focused on two groups in Copenhagen Municipality: young people who currently use or may potentially use opioids, and adults who interact with young people on a daily basis. We conducted focus group interviews with parents, as well as participants from SSP (School, Social Services, and Police), addiction treatment centers, and residential institutions. Additionally, we conducted in-depth interviews with teachers, counselors, and young individuals who have previously used illegal opioids and benzodiazepines. To gain a broader perspective on how opioids and benzodiazepines are perceived and used among young people, we also interviewed 300 youths in the streets and at cafés, bars, clubs, and cultural venues throughout Copenhagen.
The project led to the publication of a report with 7 recommendations to the Health and Care Administration of Copenhagen Municipality. Read the report here:
Målgruppeanalyse af unges brug af illegale opioider og benzodiazepiner i København (Danish)
In the beginning of 2024 Criminological Observatory entered into a collaborative project with the Health and Care Administration of Copenhagen Municipality on the rise of young Copenhagernes' use of illegal opioids and benzodiazepines.
Researchers
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search in Name | Search in Title | Search in Phone | |
| Henrik Vigh | Professor | +4541111430 | |
| Jacob Fischer Møller | Research Assistant | +4535325436 |
Funded by:
Målgruppeanalyse af unges brug af illegale opioider og benzodiazepiner i København is partly funded by the Health and Care Administration of Copenhagen Municipality
Project: Målgruppeanalyse af unges brug af illegale opioider og benzodiazepiner i København
Period: 2024
Contact
Research assistant Jacob Fischer Møller
Department of Anthropology
University of Copenhagen
Phone: +45 41 60 60 92
E-mail: jfm@anthro.ku.dk