The new Regional Addiction Plan 2024-2030 in Castilla y León, Spain, broadens its scope to include emerging phenomena such as compulsive screen use and vaping. However, does it truly address the complexities of modern addictions, or does it perpetuate a traditional approach that overlooks the root causes of these behaviors?
An Ambitious Plan with New Challenges: The government of Castilla y León has unveiled the ambitious Regional Addiction Plan 2024-2030, with a budget of €123 million—a significant 83% increase from the previous plan.
Spearheaded by the Ministry of Family and Equal Opportunities in collaboration with Health and Education, the strategy aims to tackle a broader range of addictions, from classic substance use to emerging issues like excessive screen time and vaping.
Nevertheless, critical questions remain: does the plan move beyond punitive or simplistic responses, or is it stuck in outdated paradigms that fail to address the intricate nature of addictions?
The plan focuses on prevention, particularly among minors, adolescents, and vulnerable groups, acknowledging the growing relevance of “non-substance-related addictions.” Isabel Blanco, Minister of Family and Equal Opportunities, emphasized the goal to “prevent illegal drug use, the misuse of legal substances, and behavioral addictions.”
Broadening the Scope, Missing the Roots
However, while this expanded scope seems progressive, it neglects a deeper structural reflection: what drives young people to these behaviors?
What role do social environments, emotional insecurity, and structural inequalities play in the genesis of addictions?
Including vaping as a concern reveals a lack of nuance in the analysis.
Various international studies, such as those by the Royal College of Physicians and the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, have shown that vaping poses significantly less risk than smoking traditional cigarettes.
Equating the two practices without distinguishing their relative health impacts could create misconceptions and contradict the harm reduction approach—a cornerstone of realistic, evidence-based tobacco control.
Prevention Efforts: A Superficial Solution?
One innovation of the plan is the extension of prevention programs to third- and fourth-grade children, as well as vocational and university students.
Although well-intentioned, this approach risks being superficial if it is not paired with education addressing the underlying causes of addiction, such as stress management, mental health, and social context.
Programs like “Pause and Reconnect,” aimed at fostering healthy screen habits, are a positive step, but are social media campaigns alone enough to combat the profound psychological impacts of technology on young people?
The plan places special emphasis on vaping and energy drink consumption, standard practices among adolescents.
According to the plan, 43.2% of students consumed energy drinks in the past month, and 17.4% mixed them with alcohol.
Furthermore, vaping, like alcohol consumption, typically begins at age 14. Yet, the strategy seems to overlook that for adult smokers, vaping is a key harm reduction tool.
Focusing solely on the risks of vaping among adolescents without acknowledging its value in reducing tobacco use among adults could perpetuate ineffective policies and keep smokers engaged in far more harmful practices.
Addiction and Structural Inequality
The plan includes interventions targeting vulnerable groups such as homeless individuals, migrants, and victims of gender-based violence—an undeniably positive step.
However, the measures focus on the consequences of addiction rather than the factors that drive it: social exclusion, economic insecurity, unaddressed trauma, and an inadequate mental health system.
While a positive initiative, the rebranded Local Addiction Plans Network must go beyond nominal changes and foster deep alliances with universities and civil organizations to develop structural solutions.
The Regional Addiction Plan 2024-2030 represents a significant effort to address shifting public health challenges.
However, its success will hinge on its ability to transcend a simplistic approach that demonizes certain behaviors without considering their context.
Beyond Stigma: The Need for Structural Change
What initially appears to be real change may also seem like more of the same, depending on the perspective.
Rather than resorting to measures that reinforce outdated practices and stigmatize behaviors—such as designating screen- and vape-free spaces—a more transformative approach is required.
This demands a commitment to comprehensive education, the promotion of emotional well-being, and evidence-based harm reduction strategies.
Only through such a holistic and inclusive framework can we truly address the underlying causes of addiction and pave the way for healthier, more equitable communities.