Finland is facing a sharp rise in drug-related fatalities, with 310 deaths recorded in 2023, marking an increase of 60 from the previous year, according to Statistics Finland.
“This is the highest number ever recorded since measurements began in 2006,” stated Kati Taskinen, speaking to Finland’s state broadcaster, Yle.
The spike is most alarming among young people aged 15 to 24, where nearly one-third of all drug-related deaths occurred. Startlingly, drugs accounted for one in four deaths within this age group, highlighting a growing crisis among Finland’s youth.
Alcohol-related deaths have also climbed, with 1,727 fatalities attributed to alcohol poisoning or alcohol-induced illnesses in 2023—63 more than the previous year. Together, these statistics paint a grim picture of substance abuse’s growing toll on Finland’s population.
