A study of Ministry of Social Development (Mides) found that 91% of people living on the streets have alcohol and drug problems, among the most consumed substances base paste stands out with 77%, achieving an increase of 20% since the last survey of the portfolio.
According to a survey of the Social Development portfolio, disseminated by El País, the reasons why people ended up living on the street are, first of all, conflicts with family ties, with 43%, while the second corresponds to consumption of drugs with 35%.
Of the total number of people living on the street, 91% recognized have problems with alcohol and drugs. Of this number, 71% admitted that they consume some substance on a daily basis – an increase of 12% compared to the previous survey. Among the most used drugs is, first of all, the freebase with 77%, with an increase of 20% compared to the last survey.
Second, there is the alcohol with 53% and followed by marijuana with 48%. On the other hand, the cocaine use among people living on the streets it reaches 23%, achieving an increase of 9 points compared to the last survey.
In this sense, the mental health It is also another factor that affects homeless people, since 20% of the total number of respondents admitted to having had a problem of this type. Of that number, 36% said they had undergone some kind of treatment, while 43% admitted having been hospitalized at some time.
Homeless people, a drama on the rise
At the beginning of the month, a census carried out by Mides was published, where an increase of 48% of people who live outdoors and 24% of people on the streets.
Based In preliminary census data, this year 1,360 people were revealed to be living on the streets, an increase of 48% compared to 2021 where the numbers did not exceed 1,000 people, more specifically, 920.
As for the people living in shelters, the number increased by 8% compared to 2021 where a total of 1,395 were revealed against 1,295 people. With this, between people living in shelters and those sleeping on the street there was an increase of 24%, from 2,215 people in 2021 to 2,755 today.
The Minister of Mides, Martin Lema, remarked that there is a structural problem and that the ministry is in search to solve the causesThat many times it has to do with addiction problems. “The damn drug is what is destroying a number of lives of young people who, once they start using it, are no longer free to choose the destination they want for their lives,” he said at a press conference during his appearance at the commission. of the Chamber of Deputies that analyzes the Accountability project.
an urgent law
In this sense, at the beginning of this month the head of the Social Development portfolio stressed the importance of the approval of a bill for involuntary admission to addicted people that are in a street situation.
The hierarch assured that these types of situations are not only a danger to the person who is a victim of addictions but also for third parties. That is why they are planning diagnosis by a doctor in each situation to be able to determine the destiny of each person.
“When there is an appearance of situations that are linked to these factors, it is verified by a doctor. Once the doctor confirms that risk for himself or for third parties, regardless of the will it is taken to a health center, there the person is compensated and there the alternatives are seen,” explained Lema.
To carry out this plan, the Secretary of State assured that the ministry has an agreement with the organization “Mothers of the Hill” who have experience in stock situations. This cooperation would help complement the work of the teams to convince people they could be directed towards a Mides center, hospitals or addiction treatment places.
Source: Ambito
