The action plan sets out in more detail the objectives and measures of Helsinki’s Substance Use Strategy (Helsingin päihdestrategia), which was adopted in the summer of 2026, with regard to substance use prevention. The aim is to improve the wellbeing, health and safety of Helsinki’s residents, and to prevent and reduce the harm caused by substance use, gambling and other forms of addiction.
“Substance use prevention is the responsibility of the entire city. The action plan brings together the practical measures we are taking to enhance wellbeing, prevent harm and support the people of Helsinki in different life situations”, says Head of Welfare Promotion Heidi Hagman.
Seven focus areas to guide substance use prevention
The new action plan provides common guidelines for the development of substance use prevention in Helsinki in the coming years.
The plan has seven focus areas:
- substance use education and support for parents, loved ones and communities
- identification of at-risk groups and provision of early support
- skills development and training
- substance-free environments, multi-disciplinary cooperation and community-based prevention
- service coordination and service pathways
- communication and work to reduce stigma
- knowledge-based management, monitoring and evaluation.
In practice, these priorities are reflected in areas such as strengthening substance use education for children and young people; the early identification of problems relating to substance use, gambling and digital gaming; training for professionals; and strengthening the knowledge base and monitoring of substance use prevention.
Sports clubs and physical activity organisations will be engaged in substance use prevention and in reducing stigma towards people who use substances. Clubs, coaches and instructors will be offered training on substance use, early identification and intervention, and respectful encounters.
The City will reduce stigma experienced by people who use substances within its own services by improving service practices, documentation and customer communications, and by strengthening staff competence in respectful and non-discriminatory encounters.
Prevention of digital gaming and gambling-related harms will be strengthened through measures such as early identification and intervention, communication and awareness-raising. The aim is to increase awareness of the harms associated with gaming and gambling and to support their prevention.
In addition to this, the City is developing the Pakka model, under which the local authority, public authorities, organisations, the business sector and residents work together to prevent and reduce substance-related and gambling-related harms.
Young people and nicotine in the spotlight during Substance Use Prevention Week
The approval and publication of the action plan will coincide with the national Substance Use Prevention Week, which will be held from 2 to 8 November 2026. The aim of the week is to support professionals in identifying and addressing substance use concerns and in substance use prevention.
This year’s theme for Substance Use Prevention Week – young people and nicotine – features prominently in substance use prevention in Helsinki. The action plan focuses on substance use education for children and young people and on the prevention of the use of nicotine products. In addition to this, the expertise of professionals will be strengthened so that they can identify substance use and addiction-related concerns at an early stage and initiate appropriate support at the earliest possible stage.
Substance use prevention is based on cooperation
Substance use prevention in Helsinki is carried out in collaboration between the Culture and Leisure Division, the Education Division, and the Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division. Organisations, public authorities, educational institutions, businesses and other partners are also involved in this work.
Progress on the measures will be monitored annually. In addition, the effectiveness of substance use prevention will be monitored using indicators that track trends in substance-related harms. Monitoring will also contribute to a shared situational picture of substance use and addiction in Helsinki and of the effectiveness of substance use prevention, enabling activities to respond to changing needs.