Today, THL published the 2025 drug overdose death statistics. The numbers are devastating – but not surprising. What is devastating and heartbreaking is that we know what needs to be done, and we are not doing it.
The government is cutting funding from civil society organizations and raising social and healthcare client fees. Kokoomus MP Wille Rydman asked on social media whether anyone had noticed the previous cuts in their daily life. I noticed. I looked at the streets, the emergency rooms, and the addiction services – and saw what happens when the safety net is torn away before a crisis even has a chance to fully begin.
An individual story can reveal more about the state of a society than any statistic. When we measure everything through efficiency, we risk forgetting what truly sustains us: hope.
More and more Finns who were previously politically passive are now becoming involved and looking for change from the left. Growing poverty, young people’s weakening belief in the future, and a sense that society is moving in a harsher direction have sparked a new communal movement, a shared desire to build a better future together.
Finland has once again been chosen as the happiest country in the world. We must ask: whose happiness are we actually talking about?
The cuts planned by the government are not understandable.
Parliament has once again rejected a citizens’ initiative on drug policy.
A new drug combination shows how quickly drug markets can change.
The government’s decisions once again hit those with the least room to maneuver.