Alcohol consumption begins at age 14 on the Island and increases among women

Increase in women. The majority of people who attend are men, at a percentage of 66.8%, although 33% of women represent a rising figure that grew especially as a result of the covid-19 pandemic from 21% of 2019. They tend to be between 46-55 and 56-65 years old, with the same percentage (61.2%). Furthermore, 96% have alcohol dependence and 4% have abusive consumption.

Alone or in foster care. 25.8% are people who live alone, 12.9% in shelters and 57.3% with their families. According to the Drago Project techniques, 46.6% began to consume alcohol between the ages of 14 and 16, although it is at 14 for men (13.5%) and 16 for women (6%) that the majority starts. consumption. Regarding the employment situation, the highest percentage are unemployed who were previously working and pensioners, 57.4%. The Cáritas report states that the aging that the population is suffering and the high unemployment rate that plagues this vulnerable group is “worrying”. The work reflects that 47.7% of patients have a first-rank alcoholic family member, which causes a greater vulnerability to developing the disease. 51.5% of the people who attend the program do not have family support, even if they live in the same house. The number of patients in social exclusion is 27.7% (7.4% are women and 20.3% are men), a very significant figure, since alcohol disease leads to the breakdown of their social networks. According to Drago, 59% of people with alcohol use disorder use tobacco, 8.4% cocaine and 8% cannabis.

Dual pathology. 59.6% of patients have dual pathology; that is, an addictive disorder that coincides with a psychiatric one. The affective disorder stands out (30.7%), followed by substance use (23.1%) and anxiety (18.4%). Digestive pathology is the most common and within this, 35% have liver problems and 17% have intestinal pathology. The resources that most frequently refer patients are healthcare, with 30.4%, followed by the family, with 25.3%, and Cáritas and social services, with 10.7%. The report reflects that of the people treated so far this year, three out of ten (30.9%) have achieved therapeutic discharge, while 53.4% ​​continue in treatment.

Testimonials. María – not her real name – started out thinking that a little glass wouldn’t hurt her, “but, over time, that little glass became the most common thing in my life.” She adds: «I found myself in circumstances that mistakenly led me to take refuge in alcohol. But, really, it wasn’t me; I didn’t take care of myself, I forgot things…” She remembers that “I didn’t want to recognize what was happening to me, until I woke up thanks to the help of my family and Drago.” She recognizes that she is now “liberated,” because “alcohol is no longer part of my life. I am the person I want to be, myself; I take care of myself, I fix myself and I solve small and big problems and I decide how I want my life to be. Along the same lines, Pablo recognizes that “I drank like a man to forget my problems; “As soon as I jumped out of bed I was looking for something to drink.” The beginning of the treatment was “very difficult”, but “thanks to the help”, after a “very slow process and with a lot of sacrifice, I got ahead.” Now, he points out, “I’ve been sober for more than four years and my life has completely changed.”