The new Regional Strategy for the Prevention and Reduction of Addictive Behaviours 2026-2030 is presented at a time when several entities in the health, justice, and social intervention sectors come together. Among the voices present, Isabel Dias, coordinator of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, highlighted the relevance of the document for a more informed and effective performance in reducing addictive behaviours.”
It is absolutely fundamental, since it offers a systematised approach to deepen knowledge about the phenomenon of illicit substance consumption, but also about new psychoactive substances, whose presence has increased in recent years. Isabel Dias stressed that these substances, until recently, were difficult to detect and even more difficult to characterise in scientific terms, which requires an additional effort on the part of the authorities.
The coordinator also recalled that the experience accumulated in the judicial sector shows that the phenomenon has evolved significantly. “Those who have been working within the judiciary system for many years have been working with the phenomenon, but the type of trade that is done has also changed,” she said, stressing that trafficking adapts quickly and that traditional methods of investigation are no longer enough.
“The approach to combating drug trafficking needs other methods and knowledge of what is going on, and the number of people affected; this is absolutely fundamental,” she reiterated, stressing that this updated knowledge is essential to adjust strategies, define priorities and ensure responses proportional to the risk.
From the Public Prosecutor’s perspective, the new strategy provides tools that enhance detection, analysis, and action, encouraging more coordinated efforts among the various entities involved.
