The groups gathered in the Canary Islands Association of Addictions Entities (AECAD) offered treatment last year in the islands to 11,556 people, in 91% of the cases for drugs and in 9% for gambling.
AECAD is made up of entities such as Proyecto Hombre, Yrichen Foundation, ADSIS Foundation, San Miguel Adicciones, Social Integration Association Quality of Life, Palmera Association for Prevention and Treatment and Northern Tenerife Association for the Care of Drug Addicts.
According to its activity report, made public this Thursday, last year they provided treatment to 11,556 people and worked in prevention work with another 33,093.
In the treatments, a predominance of men is observed (three out of four users), although a notable increase in women requesting intervention stands out, AECAD points out in a statement.
The most frequent addictions were to heroin and other opioids (24.9%), cocaine (22.7%), alcohol (20.5%), cannabis (13%) and pathological gambling (9%).
Cases related to psychopharmaceuticals, synthetic opioids and other less prevalent substances but with a high health impact were also addressed.
AECAD warns about the "financial precariousness suffered by many entities in the sector, which limits planning, prevents professional stability and reduces the quality of care."
Therefore, the network demands a stable, adequate, sufficient financing system that ensures continuity in care, professional recognition of the technical team (more than 275 professionals and 161 volunteers), territorial equity and an evaluation of results and quality.
"Addictions cannot continue to be addressed with budgetary patches or with specific responses. The Canary Islands needs a solid, courageous and stable strategy that recognizes that preventing and treating is investing in health, cohesion and the future,” says AECAD.
