Proyecto Humano held its open days on Friday, June 26, at its headquarters in Capuchinos, Antequera, to showcase its work against new addictions. The association warns of the normalisation of substance use among young people.
Marisa Martín and Conchi Espinar, representatives of Proyecto Humano, emphasised the need to prevent rather than cure during the open days held last Friday, June 26, at the association's headquarters in Capuchinos, Antequera. Under the slogan "change is possible", the entity brought together local groups to showcase its daily work in the fight against emerging addictions.
"We continue to strive and work harder every day to support all those who have fallen into some type of addiction, whether it be drugs or anything else," stated Martín. The organisation highlighted that substance use and other risky behaviours are becoming "widespread, trivialised, and normalised", especially among young people, influenced by their presence on social media, music videos, and platforms like TikTok or Instagram.
Espinar pointed out that "there is not much reason for optimism, and the little that exists comes hand in hand with prevention." The association stressed that "prevention is always better than cure, and cheaper, not just economically, but at all levels." During the event, it was emphasised that the latest report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime warns of the need to invest more in prevention to address the root causes.
Proyecto Humano warned that addictions not only affect the addicted person but also their entire family and environment. "We are talking about people who are children, parents, siblings, friends, workers, citizens with all their rights and duties," they reminded. The normalisation of substance use in youth culture "shapes collective imaginaries where smoking, drinking, and trying substances are associated with success, pleasure, and belonging to a group." World-famous artists promote these behaviours, according to the association.
In light of this situation, prevention must focus on "helping people systematically build their skills and capacities to protect themselves and face the risks and challenges of life." The better prepared young people are, "the better they will be able to overcome difficulties," they concluded.
The open days of Proyecto Humano aimed to build bridges with the community and offer a "collective voice of those who believe that change is possible." The association will continue its work supporting people with addictions and their families, and encourages those in need of help to contact their headquarters in Antequera.
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