Ministers Grahn-Laasonen and Rantanen: Finland to tackle rising alpha-PVP use through cooperation and intensified action

Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen and Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen met with public authorities and experts on 5 September to discuss the synthetic drug alpha-PVP. The discussions highlighted that the spread of alpha-PVP is a complex problem and tackling it requires broad-based cooperation.

Alpha-PVP carries a high risk of psychosis and causes hallucinations and violent behaviour. It is a highly addictive drug. Finnish legislation prohibited alpha-PVP as a drug ten years ago, but its use has increased considerably in recent years. 

“Health and security authorities are now intensifying the work done to prevent and tackle drug-related problems in order to get the alpha-PVP situation under control. Security authorities are needed to tackle the availability of drugs and reduce organised crime. In health and social services, we must ensure that people with a substance use disorder have fast, low-threshold access to help and support,” says Minister of Social Security Grahn-Laasonen.

“Drug-related crime is serious and organised. Sufficient police powers, efficient cooperation between the authorities and exchange of information are of paramount importance. I also want to stress the responsibility of society as a whole – we need to focus on our attitude to drugs. For example, there is no such thing as recreational drug use. There is only drug use, and it is essential to understand that. I consider it important that children and young people are educated about the dangers of drugs, both at home and at school,” says Minister of the Interior Rantanen. 

Prevention, early support and low-threshold services play a key role

The discussions included representatives of the healthcare and social welfare sector, youth services, child welfare services, the police, Customs, courts of law and various organisations.  

The update on the current situation highlighted that the rising use of alpha-PVP is related to a wider problem of new psychoactive substances and the worsened drug situation, which needs to be addressed as a whole. There is no single solution to the problem. What is essential is prevention, early support and harm reduction. It is important to ensure the availability of low-threshold substance use services. 

Tackling availability and organised crime is essential

Alpha-PVP is manufactured mainly abroad and then smuggled to Finland as part of organised crime. The discussions emphasised the importance of tackling its availability and combating organised crime. 

Young people also use alpha-PVP, which is why we should reach them even better and provide them with a direct rehabilitation and treatment path to overcome drug use.
It is also good to remember that the way we speak about people who use drugs affects the situation. The discussions drew attention to the fact that people using alpha-PVP are presented in the media, often one-sidedly, as dangerous and hopeless. A representative of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare summed it up well saying that a person who does not believe to be worthy of treatment will not seek treatment.

Inquiries:

Elina Kotovirta, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 713, firstname.lastname(at)gov.fi

Heidi Kankainen, Assistant Police Director, Ministry of the Interior, tel. +358 295 488 335, firstname.lastname(at)gov.fi 

Requests for interviews with Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen: Niilo Heinonen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 295 163 603, firstname.lastname(at)gov.fi

Requests for interviews with Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen: Communications Unit, Ministry of the Interior, tel. +358 50 555 5035 or media.sm(at)gov.fi