– I started getting high when I was 12. I took my first overdose in elementary school. It was 40 years in Rushelvete. Almost six years ago, I was invited to participate in the equestrian project for “Sport creates chances”, it saved my life. If this offer disappears, I will perish.
That’s what former drug addict Anita Johannessen (59) says, who is participant in the rider project. She is very concerned about the uncertainty linked to the finances of the project for people with substance abuse problems.
Lost several million kroner
– In the transition between 2023 and 2024, we had the painful experience of the new application-based scheme. We lost several million kroner in grants, he says Linda Treseng, general manager of “Sport creates chances” which is a low-threshold activity offer for people with substance abuse problems.
“Sport creates opportunities” was founded in 2019 by Norwegian Ski Association, Norwegian Cycling Association and The Norwegian Equestrian Association. The association receives support from the Ministry of Health and Care and the Directorate of Health.
– Last year, grants for sports’ work for people with substance abuse problems were moved from an earmarked scheme to a new application-based scheme. In the state budget for 2025, neither street team football throughThe football foundation», or sports’ other projects such as «Sport creates chances», or the golf project «One stroke at a time», highlighted, says Finn Aagaard, communications manager in the Norwegian Sports Confederation (NIF) to Dagsavisen.
The uncertainty surrounding the new support scheme causes uneasiness for Linda Tresen, who is the general manager of “Sport creates chances”.
– For our project, this means less predictability. It becomes much more difficult to plan activities, investments and expansion of the offer. The group of people we work with are generally very dependent on predictability, she clarifies.
Mental health
In the state budget for 2025, an increase of 1.1 per cent has been included for such projects, which the Norwegian Sports Confederation notes is a real decrease taking inflation into account.
Fewer funds for “Sport creates chances” have resulted in all clubs being forced to reduce the number of employees working towards the projects. Joint events such as the Arctic Race and the Oslo Horse Show for the participants have been put on hold.
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SPORT CREATES CHANCES
The association Sport creates chances is an activity offer for people with substance abuse problems and is owned by the Norwegian Cycling Association, the Norwegian Skiing Association and the Norwegian Riding Association. The association collaborates with local clubs associated with these three special associations, and receives support from the Ministry of Health and Care and the Directorate of Health. In 2024, support for the association was moved from an earmarked scheme to a new application-based scheme.
Sport creates chances is currently organized into twelve groups across the country. Five groups for riding, five cycling groups and two skiing groups. The groups are in Harstad, Trondheim, Bergen, Sola, Arendal – which has both cycling and riding groups, Porsgrunn with both cycling and skiing groups, Fredrikstad, Ullensaker and Nes.
So far in 2024, 150 people with substance abuse problems have visited the project. Every week, the association produces over 900 drug-free hours. Practitioners themselves say that most now use public services such as Nav, GP and substance abuse consultant significantly less than before they joined the project.
Approx. 20 per cent of the athletes have gone on to work, work training or education.
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In the equestrian project at Lilleng gård in Fredrikstad, team leader Ann-Helen Tonheim and participant Anita Johannessen have really experienced the difficult finances of the project.
– This year the budget was halved. It is of course challenging, creates great uncertainty and uneasiness. That means we have to scrimp and save on everything. Cut back on several activities. For example, the annual horse ride in the mountains has been important for all ten of our participants aged from 25 to 59. Such activities are simply to be forgotten. Trip with social community training, creating memories for users who have lived a difficult life, practicing packing, being among many strangers, sleeping together in a small cabin – it has been extremely important for the participants’ mental health, says team leader Ann-Helen Tonheim.
Veteran in the activity offer
In the rider group, there is little drop-out and replacement. More than half of the participants have been involved for more than two years. A project many of the drug addicts became aware of via friends and acquaintances, the municipality or the Drug Assisted Rehabilitation (LAR) scheme.
– Two days a week, the participants do stable work. Manures, feeds and rides – with responsibility for his own horse. Not to forget that we eat lunch together. In addition, the rule is that you must be drug-free in the stable, Tonheim explains.
Anita Johannessen (59) has been with since 2019 and is the veteran in the group. Without participation in the project, it would have gone “straight west”, she says.
– I came directly from detoxification into the rider project. Fortunately, it has saved me. My life. All the times I’ve been to detox it’s gone badly, and it’s happened a few times over the years, says Johannessen. With tears in her eyes, she adds:
– I am afraid this offer will disappear. I have absolutely no network outside the stable doors, this is my social life. If I go on another crack, I am convinced that life is over.
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Drunk in elementary school
Anita Johannessen started getting high at the age of 12, took an overdose of Paralgin forte already at primary school. The drug addiction lasted for over 40 years.
– When I was in my mid-50s and in for detoxification, I was told that this was my last chance. And as I perceived, the age weighed against my being able to get a long-term offer. Only conversations were not enough for me, but then came the rescue in this rider project. Last year I got one year of work experience at Europris in Råde. Unfortunately, there were no more vacancies, but the certificate I received makes me proud. Now I am applying for various jobs, she concludes.
Team leader Ann-Helen Tonheim, in the equestrian project for “Sport creates chances”, has a smiling and short comment:
– What is nice for our participants is that the project with us is basically not time-limited with an end date. When it comes to Anita, there is only one thing to say: She has had an enormous development!
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