Comparative Research on Addictive Substances and Behaviors – Advancing by Comparing. Proceedings from a Nordic Research Conference in Stockholm, April 17–19, 2024

Summary

In April 2024, the Department of Public Health Sciences and its Center for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs (SoRAD) at Stockholm University, hosted a Nordic conference for social science researchers in the field of ANDTS (Alcohol, Drugs, Doping, Tobacco, Gambling). The conference was prompted by the decline in Nordic cooperation and comparative research in this area. It was funded by Forte (the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare), and brought together about 70 researchers. The conference focused on comparative research on different addictive substances and behaviors, countries, research methods, and themes, e.g., policy, youth and migration.

The conference opened with a theoretical presentation on Nordic cooperation, the relationship between Nordic cooperation and the Nordic welfare state, and the Nordic as a political concept. This was followed by an exposition of the visions and advantages as well as the challenges and reality of conducting Nordic register-based research.

Next, the first day offered an overview of some recently finished Nordic comparisons. These looked at adolescents use of novel tobacco and nicotine products, labor market integration of adults with substance use problems, privatization and marketization of substance use treatment, emerging trends in harmful types of gambling according to helpline data, and older people’s drinking habits. These presentations covered Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The day was concluded with reflections on 35 years of experience in conducting Nordic comparative research. The second day was de-voted to an in-depth look at topics of great interest and comparison in recent years: Drug policy, harm, reduction, and drug-related crimes; Register studies, mortality, and migration; and Adolescents/young adults’ substance use and well-being.

On the last day, the conference looked ahead towards possible comparisons by focussing on the importance of regulating harmful industries, like alcohol and gambling. Two big research programs were presented: one on deaths of despair among young people, and one on the future of social work with substance use in a changing treatment system. Finally, new ideas on how to return to the study of organized activities of people who use drugs in the Nordic countries were outlined.

The conference was well-received by the participants, who called for continued opportunities to gather and discuss research. Possibilities for continuing this work will be explored.