The Happiest Country in the World Became a Leader in Drug-Related Deaths

Helsinki. Photo: Jon Hicks / Getty Images

According to the World Happiness Report, no country in the world has more people satisfied with life than Finland. The country's authorities actively promote this image. As Tagesspiegel writes, in April, Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs presented a new PR strategy under the slogan «Making happiness happen» («Creating happiness»).

But behind this external image lies a significant problem — Finland has one of the highest drug-related mortality rates in Europe.

According to statistics, per capita, approximately one and a half times more people die from drugs here than in Germany. In the "record" year of 2023, in a country with a population of about five and a half million people, 310 individuals died from overdose. This is almost twice the number of fatalities in road traffic accidents. Moreover, mortality among people under 25 years old almost doubled in one year, and in this age segment, Finland became an anti-leader across Europe.

The problem lies not only in the scale of drug use but also in how help for addicts is organized in the country. It is estimated that only one in five residents with drug addiction receives any therapeutic support. The wait for opioid substitution therapy can last for months, and so-called safe drug consumption rooms, used in other countries to reduce harm, remain illegal in Finland.

At the same time, the state has been cutting funding for the social and healthcare sectors in recent years. The thing is, Finland has barely recovered economically from the financial crisis of 20 years ago. According to the national statistical office, by the end of 2025, the country's debt will exceed 250 billion euros.

Last week, the four-party coalition in Helsinki presented its financial plan for the period up to 2030: specifically, savings of 240 million euros are planned in the healthcare and social sectors.

These measures are already having consequences. Programs that previously dealt with drug addiction prevention and assistance to drug addicts are being closed or cut, and the cost of medical services is rising.

A Methadone Substitute That Can Turn Deadly

A specific substance, buprenorphine, plays a unique role in the high mortality rate. In other countries, it is known as a medication for opioid substitution therapy, but in Finland, since the 1990s, it has become the most widespread illegal opioid. By itself, it is not considered extremely toxic, but in combination with alcohol or other substances, its effect is significantly enhanced and can become fatal.

What makes the situation particularly dangerous is that an overdose often doesn't happen instantly. It can occur several hours after use — usually when the person is already asleep. In such cases, breathing is gradually suppressed, and the person dies quietly, without the possibility of timely intervention. This significantly distinguishes the Finnish situation from most other European countries, where, for example, heroin overdoses happen faster and can more often be stopped with an antidote.

We are talking about naloxone — a drug that can save a life during an overdose. In Finland, it only became available without a prescription last year, but in practice, it is difficult to find in pharmacies, and the price remains high — up to 60 euros for a set of two doses. Furthermore, anonymous dispensing of this remedy is prohibited by law.

The problem is further exacerbated by the unavailability of psychological and social support. In a geographically large country, treatment options are primarily concentrated in major cities, while people in regions remain without support.

Experts also note that over the past decade and a half, the level of depression in the country has significantly increased, and loneliness is becoming an important risk factor. Young people who find themselves on the fringes of society and often lack sufficient resources for support remain particularly vulnerable.

Cultural peculiarities also complicate the situation: emotional restraint and an emphasis on self-sufficiency make seeking help less likely.

Against this backdrop, a political discussion has unfolded in the country. Some experts and institutions, including the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, propose decriminalizing drug use (this is not about legalization) so that people are not afraid to seek help. However, the government and especially right-wing parties oppose this, suggesting instead to strengthen control, even to the point of compulsory treatment. Currently, only the Greens and the Left support the idea of decriminalization in parliament.

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