Alfa-PVP: Why Does Finland Stick Out?

In May 2025, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) issued a press release presenting the results of a comprehensive wastewater study, which revealed increased levels of the synthetic stimulant α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (alpha-PVP) (THL, 2025). The drug is known for its intense and unpredictable stimulant effects and goes by nicknames such as flakka or, sensationally, “the zombie drug.” In Finland, the media have popularized the slang term peukku. The increase in prevalence was particularly sharp in and around the capital region, as well as in southern and southwestern parts of the country. The rise in alpha-PVP use has been described as a litmus test for Finland's drug policy (A-klinikkasäätiö, 2025).

This surge in alpha-PVP use forms part of a broader trend of stimulant use in larger Finnish cities: in 2024, the use of amphetamine and cocaine reached some of the highest levels ever recorded, with amphetamine remaining the most common stimulant nationally, while cocaine use was primarily concentrated in southern Finland. Use of methamphetamine and ecstasy remained relatively stable. According to THL, the increase in drug consumption has contributed to a substantial growth in the economic value of the drug market over the past decade, particularly for cocaine (THL, 2025).

By July 2025, increased seizures reflected the growing availability of alpha-PVP, with over 8 kg confiscated during the first 6 months of the year compared to a total of less than 500 g in 2020 (Finnish Government, 2025). In southern Finland, the police linked the substance's popularity to a rise in violence-, property- and drug-related crimes, as well as other risks affecting both users and the general public. Both the Helsinki health district (HUS) and A-klinikkasäätiö reported an increase in alpha-PVP-related injuries and cases requiring medical attention.

In December 2025, the police announced that evidence suggested alpha-PVP was now also being manufactured in Finland, often within professionally organized criminal networks, with much of the trade conducted via encrypted apps and the darknet. They also noted that the drug had become so widespread that its effects were now observable in traffic, contributing to accidents. Authorities warned that this was likely only the tip of the iceberg in a rapidly changing drug landscape, with new designer drugs “flooding into the country” alongside traditional substances (Polisen, 2025).

Alpha-PVP is known to cause severe psychosis-like symptoms, aggression, disorientation and, in some cases, requires emergency medical treatment (Stanciu et al., 2017, 2020), making it a particularly pressing concern for both healthcare professionals and the media. In 2025, Finnish media coverage amplified public concern by portraying individuals under the influence as obsessive, deeply confused and prone to violent or disturbing behavior toward those around them (Nord, 2025).

Why Finland?

From a global perspective, alpha-PVP and related synthetic cathinones are present in many countries, and the substance is controlled in the European Union, the USA, Australia and other regions. However, the dominance and extent of use observed in Finland is uncommon elsewhere (Stanciu et al., 2017).

The drug trend has thus remained largely local and has not crossed into Sweden. Use in Sweden is generally low today and the police report relatively few seizures. Swedish drug market platforms show almost no supply of alpha-PVP, indicating very low demand. (Sahlin Ekberg, 2025). Police and customs seizures have confirmed that only a few grams were found in Sweden in 2025 compared to over 8 kg confiscated in Finland by July of the same year. This disparity has been explained by the minimal presence of physical street-level markets in Sweden, early awareness campaigns highlighting the dangers of synthetic drugs, and effective law enforcement intercepting small trafficking networks (Matikainen, 2025).

Medical authorities echo these observations. In an article published on Yle.fi, Joar Guterstam, chief physician at the Stockholm Dependency Center, stated that he has never treated an alpha-PVP user and that the substance is currently unknown within Swedish healthcare (Matikainen, 2025). The popularity of Alpha-PVP in Finland resembles Sweden's experience with the related stimulant methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) over a decade ago, which caused serious health issues before disappearing. Awareness campaigns and active law enforcement helped contain that earlier outbreak (Matikainen, 2025). Its prevalence is also lower across the rest of the Nordic countries; alpha-PVP has occasionally been identified in toxicological analyses and poisonings in Denmark and Iceland (De la Rosa et al., 2025).

Peer-reviewed research on this uniquely Finnish trend is limited because the phenomenon has escalated only recently. Some student theses at Finnish universities, however, have analyzed media coverage and patterns of use. Alpha-PVP began appearing in Finland in the early 2010s and quickly became one of the most common new psychoactive substances. During periods when access to amphetamine and high-quality cannabis decreased, alpha-PVP emerged as a cheap and potent stimulant among certain users, sometimes replacing or being used alongside other drugs. Finnish authorities have highlighted the role of organized criminal networks from the Baltic countries, particularly Estonia and Latvia, as well as other parts of Europe, in smuggling large quantities of alpha-PVP and other substances into Finland, making it the most prevalent new psychoactive substance in the country (DF Report, 2025).

All official statements emphasize that addressing the alpha-PVP problem requires society-wide participation through policy, legislation, faster information exchange, strengthened addiction treatment services and preventive work, particularly targeting young people. Whether these measures can be successfully implemented remains uncertain. In recent years, Finland has attempted to coordinate social and healthcare services to provide more effective and cost-efficient welfare provisions. At the same time, the current government faces the challenges of austerity policies due to rapidly growing national debt. Under the social and healthcare structural reform implemented in 2023, responsibility for organizing these services shifted from municipalities to welfare regions. Simultaneously, substance abuse and mental health laws were integrated into the broader social and healthcare legislation, leaving only provisions on involuntary treatment in the Substance Abuse Act (Kuvaja et al., 2025). To date, no major deficiencies in care have been reported, possibly because this area has long exhibited a clear need for coordinated services.

In This Issue

Waldner et al. (2026) have studied the Swedish grey market for alcohol where underage and otherwise restricted buyers procure alcohol through social media platforms. Arminen et al. (2026) have studied people's reasoning regarding alcohol, drug and gambling policies in Finland. Kaitala et al. (2026) have studied gerontological social work client's documents in search of new knowledge on substance use of older adults in social work client documents. In a study by Larsen et al. (2026), adult offspring of patients with alcohol-related liver disease reported longstanding mental health difficulties experiencing a strong sense of moral obligation to provide care. Rantanen et al. (2026) continue on the theme of substance use in the family, reporting on child maltreatment and support needs in families with problematic parental substance use. Finally, Marjamaa et al. 2026) report on the feasibility and Preliminary Outcomes of a Digital Intervention for Gaming-Related Problems and Well-Being.