The Regional Director for Prevention and Combat to the Dependences attended the opening session of a training course promoted by the Regional Secretariat for Health to discuss the problems related to alcoholism in Ponta Delgada on Monday.
Paula Costa defended on the occasion the need to combat the problem of alcoholism in the Azores since it is a socially and culturally acceptable practice which has been growing.
Like all other addictions, the issue of alcohol not only affects youngsters, but also the population in general, emphasised the Regional Director.
Paula Costa added that the Government intends to undertake an early approach and intervention in order to adopt effective strategies to combat the problem.
A study is being conducted in the Azores with the purpose of updating the figures of a previous research conducted four years ago.
Hence, the Government aims to implement an action plan according to the results of the conducted study. This research will define the age when the consumption of alcohol begins and it is expected to be concluded in the 1st quarter of this year, assured the Regional Director.
This training course will comprise several islands of the archipelago and it will taught by an assistant of the Institute for Drugs and Drug Addiction. It is addressed at healthcare professionals and social workers.