Local plan for the prevention of addictions and problematic screen use in Arenys de Mar

Main Objective:

To provide technical support in developing the Local Plan for the Prevention of Addiction and Problematic Screen Use in Arenys de Mar.

Summary:

Episteme collaborated with the Arenys de Mar Town Council and the Barcelona Provincial Council to create the new Local Plan for the Prevention of Addiction and Problematic Screen Use (2023–2027). Prevention plans addressing substance-related or behavioural addictions are vital tools for designing public health policies at the municipal level, ensuring decent living conditions for the entire population. These plans facilitate the development of a comprehensive local strategy to tackle addiction, incorporating prevention, intervention, and treatment of addictive behaviours. Consequently, they benefit all citizens, regardless of whether they are directly affected by addiction.

Episteme provided expert technical consultancy in addictions to design a local plan that was both meaningful and adapted to the specific needs of Arenys de Mar. A thorough assessment of substance and screen use among young people in the municipality formed the foundation of our approach. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, we mapped the current situation in Arenys de Mar with precision. Over four months, we conducted 393 surveys, 13 interviews, and 3 focus groups. We also gathered quantitative data from CASO (Centre for Attention and Monitoring of Drug Addiction), the local police, and the Mossos d’Esquadra.

The results of the needs assessment were consolidated into a detailed 183-page report. Based on the key findings, we identified the main objectives Arenys de Mar should prioritise over the next five years. These objectives were organised into seven strategic areas: education, leisure and recreation, community, health, media, evaluation, and coordination and management. Following the Town Council’s approval, the objectives were presented to the Plan’s Technical Committee. The priorities identified for Arenys de Mar guided the design of corresponding activities to address these needs effectively.

Throughout the process, we maintained close collaboration with the Arenys de Mar Town Council and the Barcelona Provincial Council, holding monthly meetings over a year. We subsequently drafted the introduction, theoretical and legal framework, and structured the entire plan. The final document—a comprehensive 300-page Local Plan for the Prevention of Addiction and Problematic Screen Use—provides a robust framework for implementing effective prevention, intervention, and treatment policies for addictive behaviours in Arenys de Mar.

Keywords:

Local prevention plans, public policies, intervention, approach, Arenys de Mar, Barcelona Provincial

e process, we worked closely with both the Arenys de Mar Town Council and the Diputació de Barcelona, holding monthly meetings over the course of a year. Finally, we drafted the introduction, theoretical and legal framework, and structured the entire plan. The resulting document is a comprehensive 300-page Local Plan for the Prevention of Addiction and Problematic Screen Use, which will serve as the foundation for implementing effective prevention, intervention, and treatment policies for addictive behaviours in Arenys de Mar.

Keywords:

Local prevention plans, public policies, intervention, approach, Arenys de Mar, Barcelona Provincial Council.