Mathias Hallberg inspires teens to break bad habits and addictions

Almost 200 years have passed since the Schnapps Dragon entered Sweden to illustrate a drinking habit that at the time amounted to 20 liters of pure alcohol per person and year. Since then, liquor has been challenged by a variety of temptations, and via new technology, social media and influencers, we are today targets for a constant flow of prompts to try – and preferably get hooked on – the next stimulant. As we know, smart marketing can make our brains easy prey, but can we really become addicted to everything?

“The World Health Organization specifies six diagnostic criteria for abuse and dependence. These include Strong need, Increasing disinterest in anything other than the substance and Continued consumption despite harm, which must be met for a certain period of time. So far, this could include everything from apps to shopping, but if we add the criterion of withdrawal symptoms: physical or mental symptoms when the use is interrupted, the answer is a definite no. You don’t get the shivers from pausing TikTok, perhaps you experience some frustration, but that will pass quite quickly,” says Mathias Hallberg, Professor of Molecular Addiction Research at Uppsala University.

For many companies, teenagers are a priority target group in the work to establish early relationships with both brand and product line. Messages and packages are meticulously adapted with rhinestone-adorned snuff boxes that "create a magical, sparkling effect" and energy drinks that with metal aesthetics promise "a lifestyle in a can" after "a session at the gym". And the advertising agencies know what they are doing: Current surveys show that 29 percent of all high school students are regular consumers of snuff and energy drinks. But can something that almost every third young person does actually be dangerous?

“As with most things, it is a matter of how much and how often. If you try snuff or an energy drink one time or two, you are at little risk. But of course, it is more complex than that. For example, many young people ask if it is hazardous to try cannabis. The answer is the same: One single joint may not be that dangerous, but it will expose your brain's reward system to a form of Russian roulette. You don't know in advance whether you're among the percent at risk of getting hooked. But what we do know is that the longer you wait to try it, the better the odds,” says Mathias Hallberg.

Several studies confirm that adolescents are socially and medically more sensitive to substance use. Statistics also show that those who try a drug before the age of 16 are more likely to be regular users later in life. This fact makes it all the more serious that e-cigarettes, for example, are increasing almost exponentially among high school students – in 2024, more than 60 percent of all girls stated that they had tried vaping – a habit that is in turn expected to increase the risk of future use of cannabis.

“Everything connects: For young people that spend a lot of time gaming, the step is short to gambling for money. Among those at risk to develop problem gambling, there is a indisputable link to the use of tobacco and nicotine, which in turn increases the risk of excessive consumption of alcohol and, in some cases, narcotics. We must make teenagers aware of this, and it is the theme of my presentation at Kunskap För Livet. Hopefully, it will inspire at least a few students in the auditorium to reflect on which habits they are better off without,” says Mathias Hallberg.

So, what risks do the substances that are the most used among Swedish teenagers entail? Most people probably know that energy drinks are loaded with caffeine – several brands contain such high levels that they are banned in Denmark and Norway – which can cause both heart palpitations and sleep disorders, having led the Swedish Food Agency to advise against consumption in connection with exercise. Snuff can cause mouth ulcers, gum problems and an increased risk of tooth loss. E-cigarettes can cause problems with the respiratory tract, inflammations and blood pressure. But they can also cause direct effects on a young brain.

“Our brain develops until about the age of 20, and studies show how just a few weeks use of an addictive substance can trigger processes that cause the brain to adapt. The longer we use a drug, the greater the risk of permanent damage that can cause impaired cognitive abilities. Ongoing research indicates that it is possible to repair a damaged brain, but we are not there yet, and the best we can do is to help adolescents create a balance in life where they feel on top and develop their full potential without resorting to harmful substances.”

Text: Magnus Alsne, photo: Mikael Wallerstedt a o