The Department of Health and Consumer Affairs has launched a new awareness campaign to prevent behavioral addictions and the consumption of psychoactive substances. This initiative comes at a time when, in 2024, a total of 18,533 people were admitted to the Ambulatory Treatment Centers (CTAs) in Andalusia for these reasons, reinforcing the need to intensify efforts in prevention, especially among the youth population.
Under the slogan ‘Do you really want to risk it? In addictions, no one wins, avoiding them depends only on you’, the campaign is primarily aimed at young people, adolescents, and their families, including minors close to adolescent age. This action aims to alert young people and their families to the need to stay vigilant and address the risk and protective factors related to addictions, while encouraging a conscious, informed, and participatory family environment in the prevention of these behaviors.
This initiative is supported by the use of graphic and audiovisual materials inspired by board games like Snakes and Ladders. This visual, accessible, and playful approach has a dual purpose: on the one hand, to recreate a family universe that highlights the essential role of the family in prevention and therapeutic support, and on the other hand, to symbolize clearly how each decision in the process of addiction can either lead to recovery or loss of control, as what often starts as simple entertainment can escalate into a challenging situation.
The campaign is launched at a time when the incidence of behavioral addictions, as a result, among other factors, of the normalization in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), continues to rise. At the same time, there is a decrease in the perception of the risk of consuming certain substances, especially among the younger population.
In response to this reality, the Department of Health is doubling its commitment to prevention by promoting a series of measures that include raising awareness of the risks of substance use and problematic ICT use. These measures include educational and preventive programs that are implemented in community, family, educational, and work settings with the aim of strengthening protective factors and promoting healthy habits.
One of the key pillars of the strategy is the prevention of problematic use of digital technologies. From an early age, adolescents are exposed to ICTs, which, while offering opportunities for learning, communication, and development, also pose significant risks such as isolation, loss of privacy, or more serious forms of digital violence such as cyberbullying, grooming, or sexting.
Un adolescente con su teléfono móvil.
Therefore, in addition to awareness-raising, the activities are also part of a socio-healthcare model that aims to respond to the various demands arising from drug consumption and other addictions. Thus, care is organized through the Public Network for Addiction Care in Andalusia, which guarantees universal, free, and direct access to all available resources.
Furthermore, within the IV Andalusian Plan on Drugs and Addictions, and in the future Strategic Plan for Mental Health and Addictions in Andalusia (PESMAA), there is a provision for adapting intervention models to the characteristics of young people. This new approach will promote active involvement of families and associations and update prevention programs to specifically address behavioral addictions, including the cross-cutting reduction of risk factors that lead to them.
Admissions to Treatment Indicator
Regarding the most recent data, the admissions to treatment indicator allows us to understand not only the evolution of care demands but also the sociodemographic and health profiles of the individuals treated. In 2024, there were 638 fewer admissions than the previous year. Despite this slight decrease, the admission percentages according to the main substance remain stable. It is worth noting the 2.5% increase in cases related to cocaine and the 1.4% decrease in cases related to tobacco.
The gender analysis reveals that the percentage of women admitted to treatment (19%) continues to be significantly lower than that of men. However, there is a higher proportion of women in treatments for the consumption of hypnotics (47.9%) and for behavioral addictions other than pathological gambling (36.6%).
Looking at the substances, cocaine tops the list of reasons for admission (33.2%), followed by alcohol (27.4%), cannabis (13.9%), and heroin or ‘brown sugar’ (11.9%).
Regarding the underage population, there were 398 admissions, representing 2.1% of the total, with a decrease of 136 cases compared to 2023. Cannabis continues to be the main substance of consumption among minors (79.4%), followed by behavioral addictions (6%).