– It’s not that everyone does it, but it’s that everyone thinks it’s a bit inside to do it. Drug use has become normalized at parties and in everyday life. That’s what student council leader Anes Alnajjar says, who is in second grade at Ringerike upper secondary school in Hønefoss. He believes many parents have no idea what is going on. – Many people probably see their children as angelic children. They do not believe that their children use drugs. And it is not only the oldest grade levels that see more drug use. The growing trend is that the age of those who use drugs is decreasing. – Before, the graduating students celebrated for themselves. Now it is more common to have several together, those in first, second and third grade. They take drugs, and they take cocaine at parties, says a worried Alnajjar. Anes Alnajjar says that many of the parents have no idea what their children do. Photo: Maria Kommandantvold / news Hash use in secondary school age Russian president at the same school, Ingvild Søreide, shares the concern. – We see that there is a growing culture of party drugs and drug use. I don’t think a weekend goes by where I haven’t heard of someone who has tried drugs or gets high. – It is worrying, she adds. Johannes Kvam is vice-president at Ringerike upper secondary school. When he was in secondary school he was at a party. There he experienced that many people used hashish. – It was a shock that someone did it at such a young age. It was very shocking. I was completely put out. Johannes Kvam is shocked by the drug use. Photo: Maria Kommandantvold / news Now the Russian government has taken action. This week they invited students and parents to a lecture on drugs. – We hope people understand that this is not just fun and games. Yodel and the Russian culture help to ensure that everyone gets everything, and means that this becomes normalized, says Russian president Søreide. Drug rumors on social media Normalization also spills over into social media. Rumors about drug use abound. Ingvild Søreide says the growing drug use among young people is worrying. Photo: Maria Kommandantvold / news “X has taken snowfall to a new level” “The Russian president sniffs Christmas”. These are just some of the messages from Jodel the students at Ringerike upper secondary school show to news. – Very awkward to have this thrown out on such a platform when I have no opportunity to say that this is not true, comments the Russian president. Introduced to cocaine at a young age Health nurse in Ringerike municipality, Anita Holtan, is familiar with the problem. Health nurse in Ringerike municipality, Anita Holtan, says that increasingly young people are being introduced to drugs in connection with parties. Photo: Maria Kommandantvold / news – Young people are introduced to these substances much earlier than before. She adds that it has also become more common for young people aged 15–17 to party with older young people. This happens at large private parties. Holtan mentions the incident in Spydeberg last weekend, and believes it may have a signal effect. – It can be an eye-opener for the youth. Unfortunately, tragic things like this sometimes have to happen in order to get a backlash. One can try to use tragedies for something constructive. This is not harmless fun, says Holtan. The young people hope that a larger and open conversation about drug use will help. A change of attitude is needed, they believe. – It is permissible to say stop. It is enough. You have to help each other so you don’t develop a big problem, concludes Russian President Ingvild Søreide. The students at Ringerike upper secondary school want a change of attitude in the fight against drug addiction. Photo: Maria Kommandantvold / news
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Drug use has become more normalised, say young people at Ringerike – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
