Iceland’s president has told a conference in Ireland that drug abuse can be avoided by ensuring youngsters follow a certain model of behaviour. Olafur Ragnar Grimsson explained his “very simple method” at the 19th European Cities Against Drugs (ECAD) conference this week.
“The only way is to create a defence mechanism among the young people themselves, to build up their confidence so that they refuse to be victims,” said Grimsson, who carried out research into the subject 20 years ago in his role as a professor at the University of Reykjavik. The model requires teenagers to not drink alcohol until they are 18, to commit to an hour of family time each day, and to take part in regular sports activities.
“Doing all three factors meant there was less than a one per cent chance of becoming a drug addict,” Grimsson told the audience of 150 people, mainly from Baltic and Scandinavian countries. Other European cities have already started using the model, and it is currently being trialled in South America.
Mr Grmisson, who was presented with an award at the conference for youth work, also said that although the abolition of borders in Europe has in many ways been positive, he feels it has allowed the drug trade to become “pan European. He added, however, that drugs must be beaten on a local rather than a national level.
I disagree with it because it will have very limited success. No teenager respects their parents that much and it’s natural to rebel. I don’t think self-esteem has much to do with it.
They drink every fri/sat because it’s fun and makes it easier to meet girls. That’s the idea behind it. It loosens you up and gets rid of your inhibitions.
In truth, it’s only the same as what university students do. The only difference is that the school kids are doing it from 12-15. After the age of 15 or so they grow out of drinking on the streets and some of them will drink in pubs or go clubbing instead. It’s just a passing phase and they grow up eventually.
Grimsson is proposing that you can tackle drug abuse by doing nothing different than you do already. The same teenagers already spend time with their family, play some kind of sport and aren’t allowed to drink until 18. It doesn’t change anything, they still drink and take drugs. It’s a bit silly when you think about it, isn’t it?
I have nothing against Grimsson, he’s a nice, likeable guy. It might work in Iceland because I think on average Icelandic kids are nicer and more respectful than British ones. Apart from me of course, I’m a little cherub haha ;)
Andy did write :
>People turn to drugs later on in life because they find it hard to deal with life. Lot’s
>of people take drugs and drink in their youth but not many go on to become drug addicts.
Yes, but it is very true that low self esteem has a lot to do with not saying no, and learning impulse control too, and so how people handle the downs of life later as adults.
That character building up comes from strong support in a family. Where else are kids going to get that kind of cares and attention. Only from people that loves and cares for them and shows them respect.
Being indoctrinated into an ethical code is what keeps people in line. And the best way is from the values of the family giving it.
Why do you disagree with that Andy ?
Criticise the President Grimsson if you like, but has anyone got a better suggestion? Decriminalisation won’t solve it; th edrugs willstillbe taken but they’ll be cheaper. Criminalisation has been found not to work. Why not try active prevention, and if it promotes better health and family life, so much the better.
Olafur Ragnar will prove his thesis. By spending more time with family (not his family, but someone else’s – anyone else’s), reducing his drinking to the occasional highball, and engaging in aggressive competitive sports (dwarf-tossing), he will reduce his heroin habit to under 1% and do so just in time for re-election.
See if he doesn’t.
No Bromley86 pal, I think you’re wrong here. It has nothing to do with boredom, it’s just kids being kids. They want to rebel and do things they’re not supposed to. I did the same thing and wasn’t particularly bored as a teenager and had a good family supporting me as well. It’s part of growing up for most working class people in the UK.
People turn to drugs later on in life because they find it hard to deal with life. Lot’s of people take drugs and drink in their youth but not many go on to become drug addicts.
>What a load of crap.
How so? I dislike Grimsson, and this solution is a little twee, but it’d be hard to argue that strengthening family ties, reducing boredom and kids not getting pissed would not reduce their chances of becoming addicts.
What a load of crap.
You see? Olafur Ragnar 20 years ago discovered the cure for drug addiction. As encore, he will now cure a far greater scourge–Icelandic Banking. He will boost the banker’s confidence with plenty of organized sports, speeches commending their unequalled skills, and an hour a day of family visitation. In other words: prison.
You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
gummi
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