Danish authorities are sounding the alarm over a sharp rise in misuse of nerve pain medication, particularly among young people. The Danish Health Authority now wants to classify gabapentinoids under narcotics law, following a fourfold increase in abuse cases over three years.
An addiction-forming medication initially promoted as a safer alternative to opioids is increasingly finding its way onto Denmark’s black market. The drugs pregabalin and gabapentin, collectively known as gabapentinoids, are prescribed for nerve pain but are now fueling a growing public health concern.
The Danish Health Authority has confirmed to TV 2 that it will recommend adding gabapentinoids to the country’s narcotics law. This would place the medications in the same legal category as opioids and benzodiazepines, significantly increasing penalties for illegal possession and sales.
Rising Abuse Among Young Danes
Data from Giftlinjen, Denmark’s poison control hotline, reveals the scale of the problem. Cases involving pregabalin abuse have quadrupled from approximately 30 in 2022 to 132 in 2024. That translates to nearly one call every three days, with most coming from people under 30.
Black Market Access Through Social Media
Former users tell TV 2 they easily obtained the medication through social media platforms. Dealers now include gabapentinoids on menu-style lists alongside other illegal substances. Copenhagen Police confirm that the medications have become part of the standard inventory on the narcotics scene, sold through both social media and encrypted messaging apps.
Young people particularly favor pregabalin as a companion drug to amplify the effects of other substances including opioids and cocaine. Some users report that pregabalin alone produces effects comparable to harder drugs. The medication creates what users describe as a time capsule effect, temporarily blocking out everyday problems.
Treatment Centers Report Increasing Demand
Kristian Holte Kofod, clinical leader at the U-turn treatment facility, describes gabapentinoids as relatively cheap and accessible to young people. His center has seen growing numbers of young clients presenting with gabapentinoid abuse. The medication has become what he calls a fairly common substance among young drug users.
Center for Rusmiddelforskning data shows 53 people entered municipal substance abuse treatment in 2024 with gabapentinoid use in the month before admission. Nearly 70 percent were between 15 and 25 years old. Most also used other substances alongside the medication.
Medical Risks and Dangerous Combinations
The medications carry serious health risks, especially when combined with other substances. A 2020 American study found that mixing opioids with gabapentinoids doubles the risk of overdose. Despite being prescribed for legitimate medical purposes, gabapentinoids can cause severe dependency.
Overdose Dangers and Side Effects
Søren Bøgevig, senior physician at Bispebjerg Hospital’s Clinical Pharmacology Department and Giftlinjen, warns that large doses can impair breathing control. The risk increases dramatically when users combine gabapentinoids with other sedating medications or substances. The dependency itself poses substantial problems, even before considering potential overdose scenarios.
Overall gabapentinoid cases at Giftlinjen have more than doubled, rising from around 300 annually between 2020 and 2022 to 750 cases in 2024. The hotline provides emergency assistance and counseling about substances, making it a key early warning system for emerging drug trends.
From Prescription to Addiction
Jesper Kurtzmann, now 35 and drug-free, developed a pregabalin addiction after years of using gabapentin for back pain. When he built up tolerance to gabapentin, he discovered the more potent pregabalin. He describes breaking free from pregabalin as requiring the same hard work as quitting heroin.
Kurtzmann explains that he did not receive adequate pain management through Danish healthcare for his condition. The prescribed doses failed to cover his nerve pain, leading to what he calls pure self-medication. He felt the healthcare system did not provide the support he needed, pushing him toward illegal sources.
Law Enforcement Response
A January 2025 incident at Copenhagen Airport illustrated the scale of illegal importation. Customs officials stopped two men attempting to smuggle 22,800 pregabalin pills into Denmark. This single seizure contained more than three times the quantity found in a December 2024 operation that recovered 7,500 pills.
Push for Stronger Legal Framework
The Danish Health Authority states it views pregabalin and gabapentin misuse with great seriousness. The authority is preparing to recommend that the substances become illegal except for medical and scientific purposes. This change would bring enforcement options in line with those available for established controlled substances.
Kasper Knudsen, police commissioner with Copenhagen Police, explains that narcotic law classification would provide significantly higher penalties. It would also give police additional investigative tools to combat criminal networks profiting from gabapentinoid sales. The change would allow authorities to treat these medications on equal footing with other narcotics.
Prescription Medications Under Radar
Healthcare experts express concern that gabapentinoids have crept under the radar during the intense focus on opioid prescribing. For many years, opioids faced strict oversight, making doctors more cautious about prescribing pain medication. Meanwhile, gabapentinoids became increasingly common despite criticism that they represent ineffective treatment with high addiction potential and numerous side effects.
Multiple professionals now question the widespread prescribing of medications labeled with red warning triangles indicating they impair driving ability. The drugs commonly cause drowsiness, fatigue, and dizziness even at prescribed doses.
Path to Recovery and Prevention
Breaking free from gabapentinoid dependency requires substantial effort and support. Former users describe withdrawal as intense and prolonged, with symptoms that come and go over extended periods.
Withdrawal Challenges
Kurtzmann describes his withdrawal experience as involving several days of intense symptoms followed by weeks of intermittent problems. He became restless and easily angered, and experienced flu-like symptoms. The abstinence period was not a matter of simply waking up one day and stopping, he emphasizes.
He eventually succeeded in ending his addiction through help from a substance abuse center, though he faced significant resistance along the way. His clear recommendation to others struggling with gabapentinoid abuse is to seek help from family and professionals as quickly as possible.
Official Prevention Efforts
The Danish Health Authority reports it is closely monitoring the development of gabapentinoid misuse in cooperation with other government agencies. The authority has initiated what it describes as a series of measures aimed at encouraging young people to refuse drugs.
Meanwhile, the illegal market continues to thrive on platforms where young people regularly spend time. The ease of access through social media means that prohibition alone may not solve the problem without parallel efforts to address underlying demand and improve legitimate pain management options.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Danish Healthcare Explained for Tourists & Expats
The Danish Dream: Best Therapists in Denmark for Foreigners
TV2: Flere og flere misbruger smertemiddel – nu slår myndigheder alarm
