Schools play a fundamental role in prevention.
The problem of addictions is like a snowball that gets bigger, due to shortcomings in prevention and timely detection. These two factors have the family and the school as protagonists, where, if both actions are strengthened, major dramas can be avoided.
At the national level, drug addiction grows much faster than assistance offers. However, it not only has to do with health, but also with violence and with the business that involves the sale of illicit substances.
That is the initial reflection of Dr. Manuel Fresco, director of the Center for Addictions, who states that, Not only is there a lack of treatment, but the supply of drugs is divided into: the supply level, which is the providers, and the demand level, where consumers abound.
“People who have this problem for many years, They do not accept having it, they do not accept the possibility of entering a recovery program, so they are patients who are not going to collaborate to enter treatment ”, explained Dr. Fresco, in an interview with Gen-Nación Media.
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Before reaching that phase, the fundamental tool is prevention, where the family and the school play essential roles. In the case of collegesthey have one double function: educational, where you can transmit information about it; but also early diagnosis, for which, the teacher must be prepared and realize when a boy who was diligent begins to have learning difficulties. This means that he can go through some drug problem or some mental disorder.
“An early action presupposes that he will be referred to the psychology area of the school and from there, once the diagnosis is made, the family will be called and then he will have the possibility of timely and early treatment,” he stressed. Dr. Fresh.
He stressed that here you will see the difference between, someone whose disease was detected early and someone who starts treatment lateonly when he is dependent or forced by court order, when he is in an incurable phase, where he will have to deal with it throughout his life.
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The program “I decide my future, I choose my freedom” is a prevention workshop that takes place in schools and colleges.
This week it was the turn of the Educational Center of the Americas, where Topics such as mental health and the management of emotions, drug addictions and the prevention of violence against women were addressed.
“It filled me with satisfaction to share and listen to young people about their reflections on the problem, and how from their place, they can contribute to the construction of environments free of violence, being ambassadors and protagonists of a real social transformation,” said Alejandra Mendoza, one of the presenters of the workshops.
