Substance use and addiction phenomena are changing rapidly – new action plan responds to the evolving situation
Phenomena related to alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products, and gambling have changed rapidly in recent years. Nicotine pouches have, for example, quickly become the most commonly used nicotine product in many population groups, alcohol availability has increased, and online gambling has become more widespread. The Action Plan for Preventive Substance Use Work for 2026–2035 provides solutions to address the problems arising from these developments.
“The availability and visibility of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, nicotine products and gambling have increased, as have risk factors such as unemployment, financial difficulties and indebtedness. We need both corrective measures in national policy and systematic, effective preventive work that also reaches the most vulnerable groups,” says Mika Salminen, Director General of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
The action plan, prepared in cooperation with experts from government, wellbeing services counties, municipalities and NGOs, includes 45 concrete measures.
Guidelines and practical tools for municipalities and wellbeing services counties
The action plan brings together national objectives for preventing harm from alcohol, drugs, tobacco and nicotine products, and gambling for the next ten years.
Key targets include for example reducing daily use of tobacco and nicotine products to below five percent of adults by 2030, and limiting the share of risk-level gambling to no more than seven percent.
The work is guided by three main principles:
- Research-based information and high-quality structures as the foundation for leadership and implementation of substance use prevention
- Everyday environments as agents for change
- Greater effectiveness through diverse early identification and needs-based support
“The new action plan targets different population groups more clearly so that preventive measures reach everyone better. It also addresses new challenges, such as reducing harms, improving safety in nightlife and residential areas, and making industry influence more visible,” says Jaana Markkula, Team Manager at THL.
Protecting young people requires new measures
The action plan places special emphasis on protecting children and young people. The goal is that minors do not use substances or engage in gambling.
Concerns include that one in four boys aged 15–16 has gambled, the use of e-cigarettes has increased even among younger children, and Finland has one of the highest shares of under-25s in drug poisoning deaths in Europe.
Digital environments increasingly expose young people to targeted advertising of alcohol, nicotine products and gambling, and availability through social media and online services has significantly increased.
The action plan proposes, for example, exploring raising the age limit for tobacco and nicotine products and gambling to 20, banning sales of tobacco and nicotine products to people born after a certain year, and strengthening media literacy among young people and support for parenting.
The role of everyday environments—schools, hobbies and youth work—is also strengthened in building protective factors.
“For the first time, the action plan also takes into account digital gaming and features in digital games that resemble gambling, which require particular attention, for example in the environments where children and young people grow up. The expansion of gambling, combined with upcoming changes to the gambling system, will pose challenges to preventive substance use work” says Nina Karlsson, Development Manager at THL.
Reducing stigma becomes a key part of national work
Stigma related to substance use and addiction slows help-seeking and undermines equality. In the new action plan, actively reducing stigma is highlighted as a cross-cutting priority.
“In practice, this means strengthening professionals’ interaction skills and developing communication to be more compassionate and equality-promoting,” says Development Manager Teija Strand.
Publication (in Finnish): The Action plan for Preventive Substance Use Work for 2026‒2035 ‒ Together to Prevent Harm from Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco and Nicotine, and Gambling
Lisätietoja
Jaana Markkula
Team Manager , THL
tel. 029 524 8802
[email protected]
Teija Strand
Development Manager , THL
tel. 029 524 7061
[email protected]
Nina Karlsson
Development Manager , THL
tel. 029 524 8027
[email protected]