André Nilsen

André Nilsen
André Nilsen
	André Nilsen den 18. april 2021.jpg Nilsen in April 2021
Born	February 14, 1988 (age 36); Bergen, Norway
🏳️ Nationality	Norwegian
💼 Occupation	Activist; influencer;
Known for	Active role in the Norwegian drug debate regarding drug politics

Script error: No such module "AfC submission catcheck".

André Nilsen (born February 14, 1988) is a Norwegian activist in drug politics. In 2018, he became chairperson of the drug policy organization NORML Norway, and in 2021 he became deputy chairperson of the interest group RIO's local team in Bergen. Nilsen also works as an experience consultant in NAV Bergen in the project "Aktiv Sør".

Background[edit]

Self-medication and addiction[edit]

Nilsen began taking benzodiazepines in 2012 to alleviate anxiety during a tough period of his life. In the beginning, he used it only when needed; the nights he struggled to sleep. It gradually became a form of "precautionary principle" to take it in the evening. Nilsen lost control and gained a drug problem, he kept his drug problem a secret in fear of consequences.

I avoided seeking help because I was afraid of being stigmatized. I was also afraid of getting into trouble with the police if I came forward with my drug problems. I did not function properly, and I notice it greatly affected my memory. When you abuse "benzos", it is as if you deprive the body of the ability to regulate emotions. It fluctuated a lot.
— André Nilsen, in an interview with TV 2 (February 19, 2021)

Media[edit]

Television[edit]

He has appeared on television a number of times in drug political contexts, this includes NRK's Debatten (english: The Debate) regarding the Norwegian drug reform with, among others, the current Minister of Health and Care Services, Bent Høie, and Leo Ajkic's documentary series Rus (2021), which provides a nuanced insight into drugs, drug use and the Norwegian russ culture located in Bergen. The series won the Academic Council's award for Good Drug Political Work, and was nominated for the 2022 Gullruten in the class Best Documentary Series.

Newspapers[edit]

Nilsen shared his story in the campaign "Straff Skader" (english: Punishment Hurts), and was interviewed by TV 2 in advance of the proposal for drug reform in Norway in February 2021. Nilsen was described as a "drug influencer" by Verdens Gang in April 2022 due to his engagement on TikTok, where he discusses cannabis, politics and the rights of the youth in meetings with the police.

A report from the director of Public Prosecutions of Norway regarding the police's use of coercive measures showed that the police had used illegal coercive measures for several decades. Sociologist and researcher at the Department of Drugs at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Ola Røed Bilgrei, stated that it is right and important that voices such as Nilsen exists in a liberal democracy; Bilgrei thanked him and NORML Norway for the result in the report.

It contributes to a nuance of the political debate and that voices that traditionally have not been heard, are now actually heard […] It is unlikely that this would have happened without the efforts of NORML and other user organizations.
— Ola Røed Bilgrei, in an interview with Verdens Gang (April 30, 2022)

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Social media[edit]

André Nilsen on TikTok
André Nilsen on Instagram
André Nilsen on TwitterLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 23: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
André Nilsen on Facebook

Interviews[edit]

"André er «rusinfluencer»: − Folk takker meg" Article at Verdens Gang (2022)
"Etter André (33) ble arrestert på gaten traff han bunn: – Det gjorde vondt verre" Article at TV 2 (2021)
"– Jeg er ikke noe typisk «klessetryne»" Article at Bergensavisen (2015)

This article "André Nilsen" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:André Nilsen. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.