The initiative, part of the I Plan for Addiction Prevention with and without Substances, aimed to inform and educate the public about the risks associated with the consumption of alcohol, cannabis, vapes, and tobacco, identified as the most commonly used substances according to reference reports.
During the event, which took place between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, various educational tools were employed, including theatrical performances, participatory activities, awareness-raising dynamics, and the distribution of informational material. A podcast featuring interviews with social professionals was also recorded.
“"Today we commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse to send a clear message to citizens: prevention is essential. From the City Council, we carry out constant work through agreements with entities like Proyecto Hombre Canarias so that the population knows the risks associated with the consumption of these substances and can make informed decisions."
Councillor for Social Welfare, Carmen Luz Vargas, emphasized the importance of prevention as a fundamental pillar to avoid addictive behaviors and highlight the negative effects of drugs on health. According to data recorded in the city during 2025, cannabis, alcohol, vapes, and tobacco were the most consumed substances.
Vargas expressed particular concern about the increase in vape usage among younger populations, noting that this practice can lead to illnesses and have more detrimental effects than tobacco due to the chemical components in these devices.
“"Vaping has become a widespread practice. It is essential that both young people and their families have rigorous information about the risks involved. It is still a behavior that can cause diseases and whose effects can be worse than those of tobacco, due to the chemical substances these devices contain."
For their part, the therapeutic coordinator of Proyecto Hombre Canarias, Carmen Mederos, indicated that while the general situation of addictions remains stable, there is an alert regarding the increase in polysubstance abuse among adolescents, who are combining cannabis use with other drugs like cocaine.
Mederos also pointed to a shift in the profile of individuals with addiction problems, now attending to people fully integrated into society who exhibit problematic substance use and its resulting consequences.
In terms of care demand, Proyecto Hombre Canarias assists over 40 new adults seeking treatment each month, a figure that could double with greater resources. For adolescents, the entity receives around ten new monthly requests.
The coordinator noted that the demand for help tends to decrease during the summer months, coinciding with leisure periods, but increases again after holidays or festivities like Christmas.
