Police warn about the Alpha-PVP drug – how to discuss the matter with a young person

Summary of this news article produced by artificial intelligence:

• Alfa-PVP is a dangerous drug
  • It causes fast addiction and serious health problems. Police warn young people: never try this drug.
• Talk with your teenager about drugs
  • Speak calmly and listen. This helps your teen feel safe to share their thoughts and worries.
• Help is available
  • Support is offered by the local wellbeing services. You can get help at school or from family counselling.

According to the Eastern Uusimaa Police Department, the use of the substance has increased, but it is not really known to be used among minors. It is especially important that they continue not to try it, but in the event that this does happen, an intervention is needed as quickly as possible.

“The substance quickly causes a strong addiction, which makes it difficult to quit,” says Chief Inspector Jere Pääkkönen from the Eastern Uusimaa Police Department.

“Alpha-PVP is a stimulant similar to amphetamine, but it is stronger and more toxic. It causes severe side effects, such as aggression, delusions, confusion, involuntary movements and purulent abscesses.”

Alpha-PVP is typically light gray and found in crystal form, but it can also be found in many bright colors and in powder form. The substance is most commonly smoked with a glass pipe. Alpha-PVP has a musty, chemical smell that can also be detected from the pipe that was used to smoke it.

Alpha-PVP is also known by the Finnish street name “peukku”. A single dose of the drug may be cheap, but as addiction develops and tolerance increases, users can easily start to spend hundreds of euros per day on the drug. 

“The message from the police to young people is simple: never try this drug. If you hear about or see someone you know trying Alpha-PVP, remind them of how dangerous it is and tell someone such as your teacher, guardians or the police about the matter,” says Chief Inspector Jere Pääkkönen.

Talk about intoxicants with your child and seek support from the Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county if necessary 

We hope that you, as the guardian of a young person, will talk about intoxicants with your child. You can tell them that you have heard or read about Alpha-PVP and how dangerous it is, and that you would like to know what your child knows or has heard about Alpha-PVP or other drugs. 

It is important that you start the conversation on the young person’s terms, without accusation or pressure. Aim to create an atmosphere where your child wants to tell you about things confidentially. Tell your child what you will do if they tell you that they or someone they know has tried using a drug. 

Remember that is it easier for your child to open up to you about difficult topics if they feel that you are interested in other aspects of their life, not just intoxicants: how your child is doing, what concerns them, do they have friends, how their school and hobbies are going, and what kind of support they would like from their guardians and other adults. 

Tips for discussing intoxicants with a young person 

On the Vantaa and Kerava YouTube channel, you can find a three-part video series that will give you tips on how to discuss intoxicants with a young person: 

• Nuorten päihteiden käytön tunnistaminen ja puheeksi otto. (“Recognizing a young person’s use of intoxicants and talking about it”) Part 1. 
• Nuorten päihteiden käyttö, mikä on tavallista ja mikä ei? (“Use of intoxicants among young people, what is normal and what isn't?”) Part 2. 
• Miten päihteet vaikuttavat? (“What are the effects of intoxicants?”) Part 3. 

Read about how you should talk about drugs and other intoxicants with a young person (in Finnish). 

If you know your child’s friends’ parents, you can consider sharing information about young people’s use of intoxicants and what you can do together to help them. 

Contact the wellbeing services county's employees if necessary 

Schools and educational institutions have student welfare nurses, student advisors and psychologists from the wellbeing services county, whom young people and their guardians can contact regarding drugs and other matters relating to the young person’s wellbeing and health. You can find the student welfare employees’ contact information at: Student welfare contact information | Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county.

Immediate conversation support is available for young people and their guardians from the wellbeing services county. The Family Counseling Services’ psychosocial support team for young people offers help to all young people under the age of 21 who live at home as well as their family members.

“You should ask for help as soon as you feel like it is even a little needed. Young people can use the service alone or together with their guardian. Guardians can also use the service alone if their child is not interested in conversation support. You shouldn't have to worry about your child alone, and sometimes it's better for a professional to be the one who figures out the young person’s drug use situation together with them,” says Marjo van Dijken, head of support services for families at the Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county. 

You can find the contact information of the psychosocial support team for young people at: Psychosocial support for young people | Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county.

Organizations, congregations and cities’ youth services also have the expertise to support young people and families. You can find the services promoting wellbeing and health in Vantaa and Kerava at: Wellbeing services | Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county.

Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county
Eastern Uusimaa Police Department
City of Vantaa
City of Kerava