Stefan Åberg has received a lot of attention for his prevention work in Helsingborg. In 2023, CAN, the Swedish Association for Alcohol and Drug Education, named him Preventer of the Year. The motivation stated that he is an inspiring role model who encourages others to get involved in drug prevention work.
Stefan Åberg himself has never had problems with any addiction and was raised in a safe environment without alcohol or drug problems. He has always thought that working in sales seemed exciting, and could imagine being an auctioneer. But his career choice turned out to be a completely different one – social worker.
– I have always been interested in finding ways to spill my energy over onto others. There are many different explanations for why someone starts using a drug, hopefully my involvement can influence them not to start or to stop using the drug, explains Stefan.
He began his professional career with another positive person, the doctor Nils Lundin, now a board member of Tobaksfakta, but then director of the Blå Kamelen youth clinic in Helsingborg.
– There was a very solution-focused approach there and a positive spirit at the clinic. I worked as a therapist with teenagers and their families. It could be about everything from love problems to drugs.
After ten years as a therapist, Stefan wanted to try something new. He got a job at a support center for young victims of crime in Landskrona. When the ANDTS coordinator left, he was also given that role. This led to him eventually returning to Helsingborg as a full-time ANDTS coordinator. He has had this job for almost nine years.
As a coordinator, he no longer works directly with young people, but rather supports and inspires different staff groups who work with young people, and also parents.
Podcast and toolbox
An important part of the work is the SANDT podcast . The podcast came about when Stefan wanted to find new ways to spread knowledge and create networks during the pandemic. It was so successful that he continued even after the pandemic. He conducts interviews with experts , where they highlight preventive work, provide a situational picture and highlight various activities and organizations. He tries to make it as easy as possible.
– I try to bring in a little humor. It's important to balance the line on the right side so that it doesn't become hurtful or crude. But it's good if the message isn't too meager.
Stefan Åberg has also built a digital toolbox . This includes lesson materials, contact information, the latest news in the various subjects and other things that are needed for visitors to be able to take their preventive work further.
– On Tobaksfakta, for example, they write quite a lot about dangers. Then I can supplement with what is being done in Helsingborg and where to go, so that you not only get information but also support on what to do if young people use white snus, for example.
Stefan Åberg is the sole ANDTS coordinator and does not have a large budget. This means that he has to find good working methods and forms of collaboration to be able to do everything he wants. It is an advantage not to be shy and a little cheeky, he explains.
– I can give an example. When there was going to be a LUFT conference in Helsingborg, they only heard back about a month before. They wanted a film made by young people to be presented at the conference. It wasn't that easy to arrange. Collaborations with schools can take time and it was just before the summer holidays, but then I got in touch with a school that got hold of two students who made a great film "Don't start smoking".
–It was a win-win – they got to market their knowledge and we got a great product.
The audacity can also be about daring to involve other administrations. An example is that Stefan wanted to examine the wastewater to control drug use. This has now been done since 2021 and is paid for by another administration.
Contact us often.
Stefan Åberg wants as many people as possible to be involved in ANDTS issues.
–A few times a month I send a newsletter to strategically important people within the School and Leisure Administration, the Social Administration and the police, among others, in and outside Helsingborg. That way I get the message out and then I hope they can pass it on to children or other adults. I have come to the conclusion that it is better to send newsletters quite often. It is good to remind people of the issues continuously.
Around the country, there are ANDTS coordinators who work alone just like Stefan. They support each other in different ways.
– It's really important to share so that you get synergies and can use each other's materials. And ask each other for advice. I often call others and bounce ideas off each other.
A challenge right now for Stefan Åberg is to make room for tobacco when so much focus is on crime prevention work.
– Tobacco and nicotine issues go a bit under the radar. I feel an obligation to pay attention to these issues. I try to highlight it in various contexts, for example the work that permit officials are doing in Helsingborg regarding smoking bans in schools and controlled purchases of tobacco and nicotine bans.
Fighting on
When Stefan received the award for preventionist of the year, he also set a new goal: for Helsingborg to become the best prevention municipality. The former elite athlete, once a Swedish champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, continues to strive forward.
– The fighting spirit, to never give up. I got that from sports, says Stefan.
Source:
CAN press release/preventers praised
Read also:
Nils Lundin “internal intoxication reduces the risk of nicotine addiction/
