The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of performance- and image-enhancing substances (PIES) use, and factors related to this, among a representative sample of the general Swedish population aged 16–25. We used a quantitative cross-sectional self-report design to examine prevalence and possible relationships between PIES use and socio-demographics, physical activity, attitudes towards muscle building and doping, friends’ use, body image, and body modification. Approximately 12% of the respondents reported that they used or had used PIES. A logistic regression analysis pointed out the importance of the social context – friends who used PIES, how body image affected social life, and how others viewed one's body – as more important factors for using PIES than attitudes towards muscle building and doping. Taken together, these results indicate a need to pay attention to the use of PIES among young people as a potential public health problem.

Since the beginning of the twenty first century, there has been an intensified political debate about drugs in Russia. The drug problem is now regarded as one of the country’s most serious problems and as an issue of top priority for the Russian government. Objectives: The aim of this qualitative study is to explore how illegal drugs are discussed in Russian political discourse. Methods: The material includes an analysis of 177 speeches made in the lower house of the Russian parliament, the Russian State Duma, between 2014 and 2018. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis (CDA). Results: In general, the study found that the debate about the drug problem was characterized by consensus, and there were small differences between the Deputy members in their understanding of the problem. Three main understandings of the drug problem were identified: (1) Illegal drugs as an increasing problem in Russia, (2) Drugs as an external threat, and (3) A need for a more repressive drug policy. Conclusion: There was a general consensus about how the drug problem should be regarded among the politicians, with a focus on a war on drugs and an absence of harm reduction ideas. 

This register-based study from Sweden examines mortality risks among young male victims of violence. In total, 87,22 l men aged 18-24 years who spent at least one night in inpatient care after exposure to violence in the years 1992-2005 were compared with 78,702 age-matched men from the general population. Cox regressions showed that men exposed to violence had a >3 times higher risk of all-cause mortality, a >4 times higher risk of suicide, and about a 20 times higher risk of death from later violence. The risk of suicide remained stable during the follow-up, and the risk of all-cause mortality and death from later violence decreased.

This design case describes the creation and implementation of a 4-week, online, and collaborative learning experience between criminology students and faculty at two universities: one in the United States and one in Sweden. Both universities have a diverse student body that includes first-generation college students and underrepresented students. The collaboration gave students an opportunity to explore criminology in an authentic global context and harness similar benefits to a study abroad program without the financial burden. The project was grounded in instructional design theories of computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) and best practices for cross-cultural team collaboration. The design involved the creation of an engaging learning environment where learners worked together to accomplish a shared goal and co-create knowledge. The design offered students a unique learning experience that broadened their understanding of criminology theories in two distinct national contexts. We present the case through design decisions, implementation outcomes, a rich description of the context, and a holistic reflective view from the designer, faculty, and learner perspectives.

This contribution focus on the difficulties of offender reintegration by especially discussing formerly imprisoned drug users’ difficulties in re-entering the labour market. It has been found in previous research that employment has positive effects on the reintegration of offenders into society. For example, employment can lead to an increased feeling of responsibility, personal worth, independence, dignity and of having a stake in society. However, one major barrier faced by many former prisoners entering the labour market is a past history of drug use. Although the relationship between employment and crime is a relatively well-explored area of research, few qualitative studies have focused on how formerly imprisoned drug users perceive and interpret the importance of having a job and how they view being unemployed following their release from prison. This paper will present a study conducted in Sweden about how formerly imprisoned drug users perceived the possibilities and problems associated with entering the job market. The study focused particularly on how the participants perceived the situation of being without a job, whether being employed created a sense of meaningfulness and whether using drugs and/or engaging in crime was related to their periods of unemployment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 former prison inmates with extensive prior drug use. The interviews were coded and analysed using a categorical-content, narrative analysis approach. The interviews revealed that although the respondents did not regard themselves as having been unemployed, some mentioned stress during periods in which they lacked a legal occupation. The participants also talked about the importance of being committed to one’s work and described that it was not only employment in itself that was important, but also being able to value or appreciate their employment. Most respondents argued that they had never been dismissed from work because of their drug use, but descriptions of workplace deviance were common in the interviews, e.g. stealing, selling drugs, burglary, using drugs at work. The study revealed that the respondents lack an identity as either unemployed or employed, and although all of them stated that they were neither committing crimes nor taking drugs, it appears that they have retained an identity as criminal and/or drug users, which may become a problem when they apply for work in the future.

Fires in school buildings are a major problem in Sweden. However, there is lack of research about juveniles’ attitudes to this phenomenon. The aim of this study was to investigate how high school students in Sweden discussed arson and firesetting. Semi-structured interviews and focus group interviews were conducted with 32 high school students (aged 14–15). It was found that although most students argued that playing with fire were common phenomena in their schools, deliberate firesetting was said to be less common. In contrast to previous research the students in this study argued that both girls and boys were equally involved in firesetting and fire play. There was a consensus that arson was a serious problem and a problem that should be prevented.

Since the 1960s, the media in Western Europe and the United States has been one important actor in the public understanding of the drug phenomenon. In Russia, however, it is only since the 1980s that illegal drugs have been discussed in the media and this discussion remains on-going today. By using narrative analysis, this article focuses on how illegal drug use among young people is constructed in the Russian press. As a result of the narrative analysis, three main discourses were identified: a foreign problem discourse, a disease discourse, and a medical discourse.