Teens turning to weed before alcohol

Cannabis is now the first drug many Icelandic teens try—often before alcohol, according to Rúna Ágústsdóttir, a veteran alcohol and drug counselor at Foreldrahús , a support center for families dealing with substance use.

“They are smoking weed the most. It’s number one, two and three,” Ágústsdóttir said in a recent interview, emphasizing how common marijuana use has become among teens—and how its dangers are often underestimated.

“A lot of people don’t even see weed as a drug,” she said. “But I’ve seen how sick it can make people.”

With over 40 years of experience, Ágústsdóttir says she works mostly with minors and their families, often long before the youth are legally allowed to use any substances. She estimates that Foreldrahús sees close to 1,000 young people and their families each year, mostly due to cannabis use.

Downplaying the risks

Ágústsdóttir says that parents frequently minimize cannabis use, wrongly viewing it as harmless compared to substances like amphetamines. But she warns that early use of marijuana can lead to addiction and developmental setbacks—especially when use begins before age 16.

“Parents don’t realize how dangerous weed is for teenagers,” she said. “Studies show the younger someone starts, the more likely they are to become addicted.”

Still, she stresses there is hope. Many teens who become dependent on cannabis are able to stop with early intervention, and most do not escalate into heavier drug use.

“The lost years”

Despite this, Ágústsdóttir warns of what she calls the lost years : a critical period—ages 14 to 18—where regular drug use can derail education, delay social development, and leave youth struggling to reintegrate with peers.

“They may stop using eventually, but by then they’ve dropped out of school, fallen behind socially, and missed out on important life experiences.”

She urges greater awareness and involvement from parents and schools, calling for early detection and intervention to prevent long-term harm.