Prevention

priorities and developments

Ann Christin Rognmo Olsen

Prevention is one of many responses to increasing levels of drug use, but the nature and extent of prevention activities vary greatly by geographical region and country. The aim of this chapter is to shed light on the nature, extent and trends of drug prevention in the Nordic and Baltic countries in recent years. These countries constitute a heterogeneous group, and the meaning of the term prevention often varies with time and depending on the setting. In the broadest definitions, prevention includes everything that has an effect on drug use, which can range from treatment to harm reduction and, as detailed in this chapter, prevention interventions are known as either universal or targeted.