Mosaic Science. (2018) Here's how Iceland radically cut teenage drug use. World Economic Forum,
External website: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/10/iceland-kno...
At Metropolitan State College of Denver, Harvey Milkman was instrumental in developing the idea that people were getting addicted to changes in brain chemistry. Kids who were “active confronters” were after a rush – they’d get it by stealing hubcaps and radios and later cars, or through stimulant drugs. Alcohol also alters brain chemistry, of course. It’s a sedative but it sedates the brain’s control first, which can remove inhibitions and, in limited doses, reduce anxiety.
“People can get addicted to drink, cars, money, sex, calories, cocaine – whatever,” says Milkman. “The idea of behavioural addiction became our trademark.”
This idea spawned another: “Why not orchestrate a social movement around natural highs: around people getting high on their own brain chemistry – because it seems obvious to me that people want to change their consciousness – without the deleterious effects of drugs?”.....
F Concepts in psychology > Skills > Coping skills / Resilience
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Risk and protective factors
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Prevention programme or service
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Prevention by setting > Youth project / club based prevention
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Prevention by setting > Community-based prevention
T Demographic characteristics > Adolescent / youth (teenager / young person)
T Demographic characteristics > Prevention / youth worker
VA Geographic area > Europe > Iceland
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