In Vejle, the number of young people with opioid problems in contact with the municipality’s substance misuse centre rose from one to 11 in just two years. In Esbjerg, police have seized large quantities of opioids and warned about potentially deadly pills in circulation.
But in Billund Municipality, the picture is different for now. Professionals across the police and municipality believe there is currently no known or widespread use of opioids among young people in the municipality.
Even so, the municipality now wants to be better prepared to spot and help young people who run into problems with opioids or other substances.
Billund Municipality has received DKK 312,500 from the government initiative “Youth Without Opioids”. The money will be used to develop a new model for early identification, prevention and treatment of children and young people under 18 with problematic substance use.
A very different picture in Vejle
The municipality is preparing at a time when opioid use among young people is receiving growing attention across the country. And you don’t have to go far from Billund to find a municipality where the trend has been noticeable.
In January 2023, RusmiddelCenter Vejle was in contact with one young person with opioid problems. Two years later, the number had risen to 11, five of whom were receiving medical treatment. Vejle Municipality described the development as a significant increase and launched a targeted prevention effort.
Opioids have also caused concern in Esbjerg, although police cases alone do not document a particular problem among young people. In April last year, Syd- og Sønderjyllands Politi seized a large quantity of opioids in connection with a case involving the sale of illegal pills. Shortly afterwards, police warned about counterfeit Oxycontin pills that could contain etonitazene, a highly potent substance similar to fentanyl.
Wants to be ready before the problem grows
According to the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting of the Children and Families Committee, there are “only a few known young people” in Billund Municipality in the target groups the new project is intended to help. The project will focus especially on young people up to 15 years old and on young people up to 18 who use opioids.
This is particularly relevant because Billund Municipality’s existing substance misuse treatment programme, MOVE, is aimed at young people aged 15 to 25. The new project will also look at how the municipality can best identify and help the youngest teenagers.
The family services, youth services, SSP, substance misuse services and educational institutions will work together to decide how best to organise their cooperation. Young people themselves will be involved to identify what might stop them from seeking help, and how they can get in touch and receive support.
The pills can be hard to spot
Opioids include morphine, codeine, fentanyl, oxycodone and tramadol. They can cause addiction and lead to overdose. At the same time, the fact that they come in pill form can give some young people the false impression that they are less dangerous than other substances. The Danish Health Authority describes opioids as highly addictive and points out that even small amounts can be life-threatening for children and young people.
There are also signs of a national trend. The number of 13- to 17-year-olds who named opioids as their main problem when starting treatment rose from fewer than five in 2022 to 22 in 2024. Among 15- to 24-year-olds, the number of hospital stays due to opioid poisoning rose from 113 in 2020 to 266 in 2025.
The new project in Billund will run in the third and fourth quarters of this year and is fully funded by Social- og Boligstyrelsen.
