The Root, Association on Women, Addiction and Mental health has formally questioned the preventative value of Let me fall when it comes to children and youth addiction problems, Vísir reports. The Baldvin Z and Birgir Arnar Steinarsson film deals with two girls and their struggle with addiction. Several people have praised the film and consider it a valuable part of the fight against drug addiction. Town council of Árborg, a municipality of a little over 9,000 inhabitants, recently agreed to send all students between the ages of 14-16 to the cinema.
The Root sent a formal inquiry to the Government Agency for Child Protection, the mayor of Reykjavík, the Directorate of Health, the Ministry of Education, and the Ombudsman for Children last Friday, regarding the preventative measures of Let me fall. It states: “Several groups, including elementary and secondary schools, plan organised trips for children and teenagers to see the film Let Me Fall. The film is rated unsuitable for children under 14 but for younger children, parents have been asked to give their permission. The trips are organised as preventative measures in the fight against addiction.” The Root doubts that this kind of preventative measures is based on the newest research. In the inquiry, the Root asks if these agencies consider
Fear-based propaganda and/or a fear-based approach to preventative measures, such as tragic stories of addiction and drug use to be successful?
If the anti-drug events the schools are organising are based on any results of Icelandic or international research?
What sort of consequence do they think it will have for children and teenagers to watch the film Let me Fall?
Magnús Stefánsson, who has spent a lot of time educating kids on the dangers of drugs, agrees with the doubts the Root has made public. In a radio interview, he claimed that the film on its own has limited preventative effects. He considers the film to be a good one and that the spotlight it’s brought to the subject of addiction is positive but that viewing the film has to be followed by discussions in order to be effective in the fight against teen drug use.
