The Nordic Paradox: Iceland
Written by: Alicia Zimmermann
September 29th, 2026
In the international relations world, Iceland is known for its progressive policies and absolute defense of human rights. From being the only country to have eradicated the gender gap by over 90% and the Youth Prevention Model helping teens stay sober, Iceland has shown how to draft strong, beneficial policies.
Yet, Iceland sits squarely in the middle of the “Nordic Paradox,” a term created by Svala Johannesdottir, highlighting the discrepancy between the Nordic countries' push for human rights and their punitive stance on drug policy. Those who need help the most are the ones who are less likely to receive treatment due to the stigma surrounding drug use.
What is going on in Iceland?
The “Nordic Paradox” was used during the “Nordic Mobilization on Human Rights and Drug Policy Session,” when describing how, though the Nordic countries fight and promote strong democracies and human rights, they still use punitive measures for people fighting drug use disorder. Svala Johannesdottir, while criticizing Iceland, did highlight how the country has started making large strides in helping those with drug use disorder. A 2022 pilot program for a mobile drug consumption room became a permanent fixture in 2024 to ensure the use of clean needles and a safe space to consume. Additionally, 2024 saw the first policy on harm reduction being adopted. The Minister of Health has also pushed, on five separate attempts, a bill to decriminalize all drugs. While none of them have passed, it has helped change the public perception of decriminalization, with over 66% of the population being in support of the measure in a 2021 study.
Yet, even Iceland is still struggling to combat the stigma surrounding drug use.
In 2023, 56 people died from drug overdose. A 40% increase from the year prior. According to the most recent study by the WHO, in 2019 alone, 600,000 deaths worldwide were due to drug abuse, with 80% related to opioids (WHO, “Opioid Overdose,” World Health Organization, accessed September 18, 2026). While these numbers reflect deaths from drug use, this subset of data diminishes the deeper cost of non-fatal drug use, and the impact of drug use in various incidents.
In Iceland, local research also shows that the vast majority of drug users who hit bottom face personal and social problems. From challenges in getting proper treatment, lower formal education, being victims of violence, and facing stigmas associated with drug use, these issues are more prevalent among drug users than alcohol abusers and the general population.
A common theme came up when looking into Iceland's drug policy and the impact on its people. The systems are struggling.
Iceland's welfare system and the healthcare system lack proper communication. While a person is being treated for their drug use disorder, post-treatment, they are often back on the streets due to a lack of housing or further support (Tómas, Ragnar. “Official Figures Mask the Depth of Iceland’s Drug Crisis.” Iceland Review, November 8, 2024). Fixing addiction is one half of the problem, but not solving for why or what causes a person to turn to drugs sets them up to fail.
Lack of communication between systems isn’t Iceland's only challenge.
This last week, Iceland deported 30 prisoners in an attempt to fix its overcrowded prison population. Typically, the government of Iceland would attempt to reintegrate these prisoners back into Icelandic society; however, due to overcrowding, foreign prisoners with a final deportation decision are able to apply for parole after only one-third of their sentence has been served. If the prisoner is selected, they are then deported (Iceland Review, “Iceland Deports 30 Inmates to Ease Strain on Prison System,” Iceland Review, September 14, 2026.)
While this new policy puts a band-aid on the problem, it does not fix why the prisons are overcrowded in the first place.
Drug Policy Change:
Iceland has largely modeled its drug policy after international legal standards using a punitive, criminal justice response to the production, possession, and sale of drugs. Currently, about 40% of the total inmate population is serving time for drug offenses in Iceland.
As such a strong member of the international community, Iceland has been slower to move in revising its drug policy than other policies in the past. Aside from overcrowding, Iceland’s adolescents use fewer drugs than other EU countries (though adolescent use is on the rise), and about 5% of the total adult population used cannabis in the last six months (Gunnlaugsson, Helgi. “Drug Policy in Iceland: A Paradigm Shift in Sight?” The Nordic Research Council for Criminology, September 26, 2025). A comprehensive drug reform is most likely to happen if the international community also starts making large changes, as these changes will require evidence-based research on alternative measures (Gunnlaugsson, Helgi. “Retreat or Entrenchment: Drug Policies in Iceland Revisited.” The Nordic Research Council for Criminology, September 26, 2025).
What is known is that the current system is not working for those who struggle with drug use disorder. Often, the stigma against drug use overrides the call to help humanity. The Nordic Paradox is evident in Iceland. A country that has set the global standard for women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, minority rights, and human rights is struggling to keep up under the intensity of international drug policy standards.
The Next Steps
The biggest battle has already been fought. The UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (UNOHCHR) released a report in 2023 showing how the war on drugs has been a net negative. Highlighting a global increase in drug use, overcrowded prison populations and the disproportionately negative impact punitive drug policy has on women, youth and minority groups.
Iceland has attempted to respond to this measure on five separate occasions. While many in the international community believe Iceland will wait for more movement before making a strong change to its drug policy, Iceland is starting to understand the impact punitive measures have on its citizens.
Decriminalization brings people back into the focus of drug policy. It eases the strain on the welfare state and the health system. It fights the stigma of drug use disorder and lets patients be seen as humans rather than just addicts. It helps cops deal with larger crimes and lowers the prison population.
Iceland’s push to decriminalize is the right one, backed by data from countries that started the movement, like Portugal and Switzerland. Iceland can beat the “Nordic Paradox.” Being a global standard in progressive policy is what Iceland is known for, and the nation has the potential to bring the focus back to humans rather than a drug.
Citations
Gunnlaugsson, Helgi. “Drug Policy in Iceland: A Paradigm Shift in Sight?” The Nordic Research Council for Criminology, September 26, 2025. https://nsfk.org/2021/09/25/drug-policy-in-iceland-a-paradigm-shift-in-sight/.
Gunnlaugsson, Helgi. “Retreat or Entrenchment: Drug Policies in Iceland Revisited.” The Nordic Research Council for Criminology, September 26, 2025. https://nsfk.org/2021/09/25/retreat-or-entrenchment-drug-policies-in-iceland-revisited/.
Iceland Review. “Iceland Deports 30 Inmates to Ease Strain on Prison System.” Iceland Review, September 14, 2026. https://www.icelandreview.com/news/iceland-prisoners-deported-prison-pressure-2026/.
Tómas, Ragnar. “Official Figures Mask the Depth of Iceland’s Drug Crisis.” Iceland Review, November 8, 2024. https://www.icelandreview.com/news/official-figures-mask-the-depth-of-icelands-drug-crisis/.
WHO. “Opioid Overdose.” World Health Organization. Accessed September 18, 2026. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/opioid-overdose.
