Ten students from the Social Integration program at IES Garachico have developed a research project focused on the problems affecting young people in the Isla Baja region, in northwestern Tenerife. Their main hypothesis, validated through surveys and interviews, points to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as a scarcity of leisure alternatives, as the primary challenges for 14 to 16-year-olds in the area.

The project, which secured first prize in the CIJ Project Laboratory promoted by the Youth Department of the Cabildo de Tenerife, aims not only to diagnose the situation but also to propose solutions for redirecting consumption habits towards other options. The surveys, conducted anonymously via QR codes in educational centers and youth centers in Buenavista del Norte, Garachico, and Los Silos, seek to understand the tastes, needs, and youth participation in existing activities.

The students, some of whom are residents of the municipalities being investigated, state that Isla Baja presents significant limitations compared to more populated areas, especially regarding transportation and the range of activities. They highlight that the lack of spaces or the closure of existing ones leads to leisure often centering around events like local festivals, where substance consumption may be more prevalent. The absence of role models and the difficulty in translating young people's new ideas into concrete activities are also addressed.

The final diagnosis, due on June 19th, is intended to be a useful tool for politicians and technicians, aiming to implement measures that will engage the youth of Isla Baja and offer them healthy and attractive alternatives. The researchers hope their work will help listen to and act upon the real demands of the young people in this part of Tenerife.