Xunta Opens Public Consultation for 2026-2030 Addiction Prevention Plan

The document aims to reduce early onset of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use, and address new patterns like online gambling.

Generic image of a Galician landscape with granite architecture and green hills under a cloudy sky, symbolizing public health and prevention efforts.
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Generic image of a Galician landscape with granite architecture and green hills under a cloudy sky, symbolizing public health and prevention efforts.

The Xunta de Galicia has opened the public consultation period for the new Galician Plan for the Prevention of Addictive Behaviors 2026-2030, which seeks to reduce the early onset of substance use and address new addiction patterns.

Citizens, entities, and interested professionals can submit their assessments and proposals on the document through the Xunta's Transparency Portal until the upcoming October 31st.
Key challenges identified by the plan include preventing early onset of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use, reducing risky consumption among younger populations, and decreasing the frequency of binge drinking episodes.
The plan also aims to provide greater continuity and stability to preventive programs, as well as reinforce network collaboration and improve coordination among health, education, social, labor, and community stakeholders.
Planned actions include information and awareness campaigns, continuous training for professionals, and updating preventive materials. Information, monitoring, and evaluation systems will also be strengthened to guide interventions and measure their outcomes.
A notable update in the document is the broadened concept of 'addictive behavior' to encompass, alongside substance use, activities such as online and in-person gambling and compulsive internet use.
The plan emphasizes training, research, and dissemination of best practices to enhance intervention effectiveness. The health authority will strengthen its technical and institutional leadership in planning, regulating, and evaluating prevention policies.
Based on information from the official source: Área Sanitaria de Santiago e Barbanza (CHUS) (14/10/2026)