In numerous American travel blogs and websites, Denmark is named as an ideal vacation destination. There’s the elegant and cheerful architecture of Copenhagen, the world-class art galleries and museums, and of course the many wondrous castles and palaces. And if you want to get away there are miles and miles of beautiful coastline and quaint island communities to visit. Denmark is undoubtedly one of the most scenic countries in Europe.

However, an introduction to Denmark would not be complete without mentioning the iconic “Little Mermaid” statue, a gift to the City of Copenhagen inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s story. H.C. Anderson, as he’s known in Denmark, wrote these children’s stories as lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity.

 

But there are darker sides to this storybook nation. And as in many other countries across the globe, drugs and alcohol are the two sides of this slippery slope downwards. Especially for the young Danes who want to party with their friends, binge drink, and try a few mind-altering drugs.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction cited a 2017 general population survey whereby almost half of young adults aged 16-34 years reported lifetime use of cannabis, with those aged 16-24 years reporting the highest last year prevalence of cannabis use. It further stated that drug use is concentrated among young people, and experimentation with illicit drugs peaks at 16-19 years.

As for alcohol abuse among youth in Denmark, teens between the ages of 15 to 17 years-old are the heaviest drinkers for their age in Europe according to a recent ESPAD (European School Survey on Alcohol and Other Drugs) report.

Based on these findings, 73% of Danish teens had consumed alcohol in the previous month compared to 48% of teens throughout the EU. 1-in-3 teens admitted to being completely intoxicated during that period – three times the average of other European countries.

So how does this story end?

There are solutions to these common problems facing every single nation on this earth.

The problem has to be addressed with prevention and education as well as treatment—education and prevention campaigns for youth who can still be reached and turned around before they go too far down that slippery slope and rehabilitation services for those who have fallen and cannot get out of the trap of addiction on their own.

For five years, Narconon Europe, based in Helsinge, Denmark, has taken this dual approach. They have offered educational services to raise awareness and help youth and adults make responsible decisions about addictive substances and they have provided substance abuse treatment services to those who want to build a new life free of drugs and crime.

One of the graduates of Narconon Europe said it best: “Becoming addicted to drugs affected my life both physically and mentally… As the program got underway, I began to sleep well and eat well. I started to feel more confident, and I started to remember who I really am and what I am capable of. In short, every step of the Narconon Program is important and each one prepares you to overcome any obstacles you might face in the future.”

 

The Narconon program steps include a Drug-free Withdrawal with personal Withdrawal Specialists who are there to assist the participant around the clock and ensure they are comfortable and able to rest. The New Life Detoxification program, combining exercise, a dry heat sauna, and a nutritional regimen to rebuild the body and restore its natural balance. The Objectives, procedures that direct a person’s attention away from past memories and negative emotions to present time surroundings. And the last step of the program—Life Skills courses that empower a person to communicate with their family and friends and allow them to regain their own self-respect.

There is no fairytale answer to the growing drug problem in Denmark. Providing accurate information about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol and offering rehabilitation services to those in need is the only solution. The Narconon Europe facility lies on 6.3 hectares by Lake Arresø and provides a quiet and confidential setting for those who need to rebuild a new life free from the nightmare of addiction. The caring and professional staff of Narconon Europe are there to help individuals and families address the very real problem of addiction.