STUDIO X to develop the City of Oslo's self-help app for people who use cocaine
The City of Oslo, through its Agency for Social and Welfare Services (Velferdsetaten), has chosen STUDIO X to develop a new self-help app for people who use cocaine. The app builds on the existing HAP app and launches towards the end of 2026.
STUDIO X has won the City of Oslo's tender for a self-help app for people who use cocaine. The client is Velferdsetaten (the Agency for Social and Welfare Services), where the specialist team RUSinfo will provide the content. The app will carry forward the proven concept from the HAP app, with tools the user controls themselves, and is built privacy-first: it will not process personal data or require a login. The solution is being developed through 2026 with a launch towards the end of the year.
An assignment we are proud of
STUDIO X has won the City of Oslo's tender to develop a new self-help app for people who use cocaine. The client is the City of Oslo through its Agency for Social and Welfare Services (Velferdsetaten), and it is the specialist team RUSinfo that will manage the app and fill it with content.
The project was covered by NRK before it was public knowledge who would build the solution. Now that piece is in place: STUDIO X will develop the app, in close collaboration with RUSinfo, starting in the summer of 2026 with a launch towards the end of the year.
This is an assignment we hold in high regard. It is about people in a vulnerable situation, and about a tool meant to be of real help in everyday life. We enter into it with respect for the subject and for the professionals who know the field.
What the app will be
The app will be a low-threshold self-help tool. It is being made so that each individual can use it on their own, at any time, without having to register or state who they are. The content and tools will build on the professional expertise of RUSinfo, and on a concept that has already been tried and tested.
In short, the app will give the user practical tools to handle their own situation, follow their own progress over time, and find support when needed. The framework is familiar and safe for the target group, while the content is tailored to those the app is made for.
Building on the HAP app
The solution will carry forward the concept from the existing HAP app, which Velferdsetaten already offers. The idea is simple: a tool that works, and that many recognise, is a good starting point. The new app will be its own, standalone app tailored to a new target group, but it will build on the same proven approach to self-help.
For the user, that means an app that should feel considered and safe to use. For Velferdsetaten, it means continuity: the same core concept, with a solid and stable solution underneath, tailored to a new need.
Privacy at the core
This is a health-related field, and privacy has been the guiding principle for the entire solution. The app will not process personal data and will not require a login. The user is anonymous, and the data stays on the device. The solution will meet the requirements for universal design (WCAG 2.1 AA), so that it is accessible to as many people as possible.
Why this matters to us
We are proud and humbled to have been chosen for this assignment. STUDIO X works a great deal with the public sector and the health field, where the requirements for privacy, accessibility and quality are high, but in a field like this it is the specialist team that owns the content and the direction.
Our task is to build the tool well, together with RUSinfo and Velferdsetaten. The goal is simple: an app that is of real help to those who will use it.
In the media
The project has been covered by several outlets:
- NRK: Oslo kommune utvikler kokain-app
- Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad: Lokal bedrift vant anbudet, skal lage slutteapp for kokainbrukere
Frequently asked questions
Who is developing the City of Oslo's self-help app for people who use cocaine?
STUDIO X is developing the app on behalf of the City of Oslo through Velferdsetaten. The specialist team RUSinfo will manage the app and provide the professional content.
What is the app?
It will be an anonymous self-help app with practical tools for people who use cocaine. It is being made for use on your own, without a login and without registration.
What is the relationship to the HAP app?
The new app is its own, standalone app, but it carries forward the proven self-help concept from Velferdsetaten's existing HAP app, tailored to a new target group.
Does the app process personal data?
No. The app will not require a login and will not process personal data. The user will be anonymous.
When does the app launch?
The app is being developed through 2026, with a launch planned towards the end of the year.
Are you building a solution for the public sector or the health field, with high requirements for privacy and universal design? Get in touch, and we will have a chat. You can also read more about app development with us.
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