The initiatives include the creation of a Social Emergency Center, for which construction has already begun, and a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Residence, which will provide specialized support after treatment for addictive behaviors.
The announcement was made by the Councilor for Social Action, Cristina do Canto Tavares, during the opening of the seminar “New Drugs and Vulnerable Populations – Challenges of the Century”.
The new Social Emergency Center, located on Rua de São João de Deus, represents a municipal investment of 106,000 euros and will have the capacity to assist up to 30 people, featuring a social canteen, restrooms, and a psychosocial support office.
The second intervention foresees an investment of 330,000 euros for the creation of a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Residence, intended to house ten individuals with addiction problems who have successfully completed their treatment programs. This residence will be staffed by a multidisciplinary team.
Cristina do Canto Tavares highlighted that these initiatives are part of a broader municipal strategy and emphasized the unprecedented investment in Social Action in recent years, including increased support for families and Social Solidarity Private Institutions (IPSS), and the development of new responses for vulnerable populations.
The councilor also warned about the challenges posed by the consumption of new psychoactive substances, advocating for the importance of prevention, scientific research, and collaboration among professionals, particularly in the Azores, given the proliferation of synthetic cathinones.
