The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, María Dolores Corujo, has inaugurated this Monday the new facilities of the Addiction Care Unit 'Doctora Rosa Torres Martínez'. A building located on Calle Andalucía in Arrecife and which, as Corujo details, "arises from the need to create a space for the comprehensive care of patients with addiction problems on the island and which involves social, medical and pharmaceutical care for users through a great team of professionals."
"Those who are trapped in the cruel trap of drug addiction and addictions lose something essential, the ability to decide what to do with their lives, so the role of this network is to accompany patients throughout the long recovery process with a great human team, with resources and innovative methodologies, which make it a model network and worthy of recognition such as the Queen Sofía Award, awarded by the Red Cross," said the president.
The current Addiction Care Unit (UAA) has 480 square meters and houses an area dedicated to the pharmacy, individualized dispensing areas, repackaging, sample taking and handling, toilets, two multipurpose and polyvalent rooms, waiting room, warehouse and a large administration area.
The new center also has a team of health professionals composed of three psychologists, two doctors, a pharmacist, a nurse and a nursing assistant, as well as two social workers and a pedagogue.
The Minister of Social Welfare, Isabel Martín, explained that "last year a total of 605 users were attended, of which 258 were new patients and 347 were restarts of users already registered". "The vast majority of these people were cannabis users, at 28.9%, followed by alcohol, at 20% and cocaine, at 19.59% of the cases treated," she said.
The adaptation of this new unit has involved "an investment of approximately 236,000 euros, is part of the Socio-Health Investment Plan of the Island Council, whose objective is to improve and expand the network of social and health services on the island," detailed the Vice President of the Cabildo and Councilor for Public Works, Jacobo Medina.
"The outdoor spaces will also be equipped with new shaded areas, outdoor furniture and the parking lot will be equipped, which will also have accessibility elements, such as railings and outdoor ramps," he added.
35 years since the first CAD
According to the Cabildo, this year marks 35 years since the first care resource in Lanzarote was put into operation to address the problem of addictions. This is the well-known and old CAD, which is currently called UAA (Addiction Care Unit) which since 1986 has been mainly involved in activities related to assistance in the field of drug addiction and other addictions.
"The care demands of the moment, the increase in the number of consumers and new consumption trends have led the network to increase its economic, human and infrastructure resources," the institution points out. Thus, the care network is currently composed, in addition to the Addiction Care Unit (U.A.A), by the Residential Addiction Care Unit (U.R.A.A) and the Semi-residential Addiction Care Unit (U.S.A.A), where the Specific Gender Program and the Dual Pathology Program are carried out.
Families or people interested in receiving more information about the Addiction Care Unit can contact us at 928-812664 and 928-813551, or through the email cadlanzarote@cabildodelanzarote.com.
