During the 20th National Week on Public Information “Sharing Efforts”, held from 19 to 25 January 2015, participants presented data from the National Survey of Addictions, showing that 55.2 percent of young Mexicans consume alcoholic beverages regularly, also alcohol consumption increased from 49 to 55 percent from 2002 to 2011.
During the event that takes place simultaneously throughout the country, Maria Dolores Osorio Piña, Hidalgo’s Sub Minister of Public Health, proposed promoting activities to raise awareness about the consequences of alcohol abuse among the public.
The health official congratulated the Mexican General Services Central Office of Alcoholics Anonymous, which has worked over 20 years, focusing on prevention and rehabilitation of this disease. The organization operates through its more than 14,000 groups working in the country.
Osorio Piña said that an inter-institutional collaboration agreement was signed with the non-governmental association, which is the largest in the country. The agreement will allow to work together in the various tasks of awareness about alcoholism and its consequences, as well as to create preventive, treatment and rehabilitation strategies for the disease.
Furthermore, she recognized the participation of various institutions that collaborate with federal, state and municipal authorities; offering lectures, workshops, conferences and sports activities in the 84 municipalities of the State, which include the participation of more than 78,000 adolescents.
She added that campaigns are performed throughout the year, providing information, through pamphlets, brochures, magazines, posters, audio and video. Also, information modules are mounted in areas where there is a large movement of people, including waiting rooms of hospitals, clinics, and workplaces.
Osorio Piña said the Ministry of Health of Hidalgo has the facilities to address addictions like alcoholism, for example the Primary Care Centers for Addictions (CAPA) located in the municipalities of Tula de Allende, Ciudad Sahagun, Ixmiquilpan and Orizatlán. Other example she mentioned is the State Center for Integral Care of Addictions. Finally, she explained that health centers in the municipalities provide guidance and counseling at no cost, with the sole aim of reducing rates of alcoholism among the population of the state.
Source: Secretaría de Salud (Mexico’s Ministry of Health)
