Child protection service warns of rising underage drinking and cannabis use

Underage drinking and cannabis use are increasing among children of primary-school age, according to Þyrí Halla Steingrímsdóttir, executive director of Reykjavík’s child protection service, in an interview with mbl.is.

“We see this in our cases and in cases handled by the centres. We notice that there is an increase,” Steingrímsdóttir said.

She attributed the change to prevention efforts being relaxed. Younger children, including primary-school pupils, are drinking alcohol more often than in previous years, she said, adding that cannabis use also appears to be increasing.

Underage drinking was a serious problem in Iceland 30 to 40 years ago, when the country was close to having Europe’s highest rate of youth drinking. The problem later shifted towards older teenagers in secondary schools, which Steingrímsdóttir described as perhaps more acceptable. She said many people working in the system now feel that drinking is moving back towards primary-school age.

Police carried out special checks on young people drinking alcohol during Culture Night last Saturday and intervened in numerous cases involving children and teenagers. A considerable amount of alcohol was poured away.

Steingrímsdóttir said a new prevention campaign was needed, involving parents and the local community through cooperation and dialogue. By the time cases reach child protection services, they are often already serious and far advanced, she said.

“But intervention is needed immediately,” she said, stressing the importance of parents, schools and the local community.

A major campaign against underage drinking and drug use in the 1990s led to the development of the Icelandic Prevention Model. Social scientists, policymakers and institutions mapped the social factors affecting young people’s substance use and designed measures for prevention work. The model is now used by hundreds of municipalities around the world.