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Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social
Regional Government continues to focus on prevention of addictive behaviours and dependencies throughout the Region
Regional Government continues to focus on prevention of addictive behaviours and dependencies throughout the Region
Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social
Regional Government calls on Parliament to criminalise new psychoactive substances
Regional Government calls on Parliament to criminalise new psychoactive substances
Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Desporto
Regional Government presents "Festivities are not just about alcohol" campaign
Regional Government presents "Festivities are not just about alcohol" campaign
March 26, 2025
Regional Government continues to focus on prevention of addictive behaviours and dependencies throughout the Region
December 6, 2024
Regional Government calls on Parliament to criminalise new psychoactive substances
December 6, 2023
Regional Government presents "Festivities are not just about alcohol" campaign
News
Nota de Imprensa
March 26, 2025
Regional Government continues to focus on prevention of addictive behaviours and dependencies throughout the Region
In addition to the "Be Healthy" programme in Terceira, which focuses on preventing addictive behaviours, the Regional Directorate for Prevention and Control of Dependencies, in conjunction with partners in the sector, has set up another two teams for this area, now covering the entire archipelago. The "More Health" and "Seeds of Change" projects join the Regional Government's efforts to develop a more consistent, effective and attentive approach to the idiosyncrasies of each island. The three prevention teams will operate in three specific geographical areas and will, thus, cover all the archipelago's islands. They will "improve proximity which, in turn, will facilitate dialogue with the target public, an essential part of prevention work," noted Mónica Seidi, Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security. Increasingly emphasising the importance of prevention, the Regional Directorate for Prevention and Control of Dependencies has a department in São Miguel since this year, which is part of the Centre for the Promotion of Lifestyles and Prevention, given the needs arising on the island. With a view to increasingly including the community in the fight against addictive behaviour, the Regional Directorate for Prevention and Control of Dependencies held the 2nd meeting ‘Parish Councils as Community Support: their role in the phenomenon of addictive behaviours’ on Terceira Island last Saturday. The event was attended by parish mayors from the islands of Graciosa, Terceira and Santa Maria. The third and final meeting will be held in Pico on May 3 and will reach all the other parish mayors in the Azores. As far as treatment is concerned, the Regional Government has established 20 agreements with therapeutic communities to diversify the type of response available and ensure increasingly "tailored" treatments for each patient, optimising their success. The Regional Government's commitment to preventing and combating addictions remains a priority, promoting a continuous reinforcement of the means available to ensure an effective and integrated response to this public health issue.
March 26, 2025
Regional Government continues to focus on prevention of addictive behaviours and dependencies throughout the Region
In addition to the "Be Healthy" programme in Terceira, which focuses on preventing addictive behaviours, the Regional Directorate for Prevention and Control of Dependencies, in conjunction with partners in the sector, has set up another two teams for this area, now covering the entire archipelago. The "More Health" and "Seeds of Change" projects join the Regional Government's efforts to develop a more consistent, effective and attentive approach to the idiosyncrasies of each island. The three prevention teams will operate in three specific geographical areas and will, thus, cover all the archipelago's islands. They will "improve proximity which, in turn, will facilitate dialogue with the target public, an essential part of prevention work," noted Mónica Seidi, Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security. Increasingly emphasising the importance of prevention, the Regional Directorate for Prevention and Control of Dependencies has a department in São Miguel since this year, which is part of the Centre for the Promotion of Lifestyles and Prevention, given the needs arising on the island. With a view to increasingly including the community in the fight against addictive behaviour, the Regional Directorate for Prevention and Control of Dependencies held the 2nd meeting ‘Parish Councils as Community Support: their role in the phenomenon of addictive behaviours’ on Terceira Island last Saturday. The event was attended by parish mayors from the islands of Graciosa, Terceira and Santa Maria. The third and final meeting will be held in Pico on May 3 and will reach all the other parish mayors in the Azores. As far as treatment is concerned, the Regional Government has established 20 agreements with therapeutic communities to diversify the type of response available and ensure increasingly "tailored" treatments for each patient, optimising their success. The Regional Government's commitment to preventing and combating addictions remains a priority, promoting a continuous reinforcement of the means available to ensure an effective and integrated response to this public health issue.
Nota de Imprensa
December 6, 2024
Regional Government calls on Parliament to criminalise new psychoactive substances
The Regional Secretariat for Health and Social Security, through the Regional Directorate for Prevention and Control of Dependencies, has sent the President of the National Assembly, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, a request for the rapid criminalisation of new psychoactive substances recently identified on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, as they pose an emerging threat to public health. The call comes after a complaint made during the last meeting of the task force dedicated to this issue, where significant changes in the behaviour of individuals with addictions followed by the street team were pointed out. The rapid coordination between the various organisations, and the immediate availability of the Criminal Investigation Police, led to the identification of new substances in drug samples seized by the authorities. The rapid emergence of these new substances makes it difficult for the authorities to identify them, aggravating the risks associated with their consumption due to their high addictive potential, toxicity and unpredictable effects on the body. These new substances are not yet criminalised or included in the legal framework of the Drugs Act 15/93 of January 22. This creates a gap in the authorities' ability to take effective action to control their consumption, trafficking and distribution. This legislative vacuum undermines the protection of the most vulnerable populations, especially young people. It also limits preventive and repressive efforts in the Region, as elsewhere; therefore, the inclusion of these substances in legislation is an urgent and essential measure to empower the authorities in their actions against this menace. Only with a swift and coordinated response between the various entities - governmental, educational, social and health - will it be possible to protect the well-being and health of Azorean communities, minimising the impact of addictive behaviours and dependencies in the Region.
December 6, 2024
Regional Government calls on Parliament to criminalise new psychoactive substances
The Regional Secretariat for Health and Social Security, through the Regional Directorate for Prevention and Control of Dependencies, has sent the President of the National Assembly, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, a request for the rapid criminalisation of new psychoactive substances recently identified on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, as they pose an emerging threat to public health. The call comes after a complaint made during the last meeting of the task force dedicated to this issue, where significant changes in the behaviour of individuals with addictions followed by the street team were pointed out. The rapid coordination between the various organisations, and the immediate availability of the Criminal Investigation Police, led to the identification of new substances in drug samples seized by the authorities. The rapid emergence of these new substances makes it difficult for the authorities to identify them, aggravating the risks associated with their consumption due to their high addictive potential, toxicity and unpredictable effects on the body. These new substances are not yet criminalised or included in the legal framework of the Drugs Act 15/93 of January 22. This creates a gap in the authorities' ability to take effective action to control their consumption, trafficking and distribution. This legislative vacuum undermines the protection of the most vulnerable populations, especially young people. It also limits preventive and repressive efforts in the Region, as elsewhere; therefore, the inclusion of these substances in legislation is an urgent and essential measure to empower the authorities in their actions against this menace. Only with a swift and coordinated response between the various entities - governmental, educational, social and health - will it be possible to protect the well-being and health of Azorean communities, minimising the impact of addictive behaviours and dependencies in the Region.