20Th seminar on drug addictions: Alcohol, are talking?

Valencia, January 2012- the Department of health and consumption at the Town Hall of Valencia, with the collaboration of the Directorate-General of management and sanitary support of the Generalitat Valenciana and the Foundation help against drug addiction (FAD), the seminar XX on drug addiction which this year bears the title Alcohol, are talking? ”, in the Magna Aula of the Faculty of medicine at the University of Valencia.

After the official opening, which begins at 10 a.m. hours, will take place the presentation to the media, at 1100 hours in the room of degrees of the Faculty of medicine at the University of Valencia.

This day aims to reflect on the evolution of a moderate and family consumption, to excessive consumption that make it a distorting element of social relations. It’s a sunset together on how to act against a drug integrated socially, and the policies of prevention and action to revoke figures such as the age of onset of consumption, which, according to the school survey on drugs 2010-2011, at the age of 13.7.

Excessive consumption of alcohol is also a public health problem associated with the person that drinks to their environment and to society as a whole. Domestic violence is one of its most well-known and painful repercussions, and not only to women, also affects children and the elderly.

According to the health and consumption, Lourdes Bernal, Councillor is necessary to protect children who are victims of the consequences of the drink of others, even members of his family, which leads to economic and emotional poverty, violence and loss of opportunities ”.

The Town Hall of Valencia, through the Municipal Plan of Drogodependencias (PMD), faces the problems of excessive alcohol consumption from four areas: prevention school, prevention family community prevention and alternatives of leisure and free time. Francisco j. Cañigral, Chief of service of the PMD, stands out in this Plan that all the political groups in the Town Hall have always supported all its activities, and the large share of people each year in the programs that we develop ”.

Likewise, the FAD (Foundation for help against drug addiction), has recently presented the DVD all about alcohol ”, an informative project providing information about the nature, evolution and impact of the consumption of alcohol in our society. Prior to this material, the FAD launched the campaign in May 2011 what to do with alcohol? ”, first dedicated exclusively to this problem. This campaign has a website that reflects the opinions of Internet users: www.quedebemoshacerconelalcohol.com.

Structure of the day

The official opening will be performed by Lourdes Bernal Sanchis, Councillor for health and consumption of the Ayuntamiento de Valencia; José Manuel Almerich Silla, delegate of the Rector for teaching at relief centers; Ignacio Calderón Balanzategui, General Director of the Fundación for aid against the drug addiction (FAD) and Sophia Thomas Dols, Director of healthcare area of the Ministry of health. Generalitat Valenciana.

With the inaugural conference Alcohol and adolescents: past, present and future ”, delivered by Javier Elzo Imaz, starts the exposure of one of the problems of excess alcohol consumption: consumption of young people and children.

Will then take place round table El Alcohol, distorting element of social relations ” in which intervene, Consuelo Guerri Sirera, head of laboratory of cellular pathology in research centre Prince Philip; Ricardo Pérez Gerada, doctor in the Municipal Plan of drogodependencias (PMD) of the municipality of Valencia and Rosa Mª Maria Torrens, head of the service of teaching, school, Valencian studies health /EVES) of the Ministry of health of the Generalitat Valenciana. As moderator, Victor Agulló Calatayud, Department of Sociology Social Anthropology i. Unitat Social d´Investigació i (UISYS). University of València-CSIC.

With regard to the botellón, Consuelo Guerri, believes that: the abuse of alcohol, especially the pattern of consumption of the botellón, where high levels of alcohol in blood and brain are reached in a few hours, are particularly harmful to the developing brain and memory and learning processes ”. For Victor Agulló abusive consumption of alcohol or binge drinking can cannot be separated from the recent social changes operated in Western societies and the current situation of international crisis ”. In short, a controversial subject which will be a source of debate.

Municipalities

The second Roundtable, already in the afternoon hours, is entitled what we do from the local level? ” and it involved Lourdes Alapont Pinar, psychologist at the UPCCA of Mislata and José Gisbert uncle, psychologist at the UPCCA of Vila-Real. Francisco Bueno Cañigral, Chief of service of the PMD will moderate.

And at the local level, Lourdes Alapont considers that, while the economic means are essential to improve its work, should emphasize the importance of the trust and collaboration of all the social agents ” to develop their work. For José Gisbert uncle, participation and availability both parents and educators in Vila-Real is high when it comes to carrying out activities of prevention, not just school but also in community and family levels ”.

The Councillor for health and consumption of the Ayuntamiento de Valencia, Lourdes Bernal will present the closing conference: sport as an alternative to the consumer ” that will develop Juan Antonio Corbalan, physician, President of Makeateam and former professional basketball player. Corbalán believes that the athlete sport has a superb platform to grow, as a sportsman and as a person, social experiences and to absorb all the teaching load of sport not finalist, which is the sport with a capital ”.

Reservation of places per fax (963 981 808) or by e-mail (pmdsanidad@valencia.es).