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Drug use and addictions
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Pregabaline addiction has stabilized among vulnerable young people treated by the Erdu program

The main profile of the programme for the care of persons with addictions in situations of high social vulnerability is that of men between the ages of 18 and 35, many of whom are homeless and have mental health problems.

La adicción a la pregabalina se consolida entre jóvenes vulnerables atendidos por el programa Erdu

Men dependent on pregabaline between the ages of 18 and 35 are the main profile of people cared for by Erdu. Erdu is a Basque Government programme aimed at people with addictions in situations of social vulnerability.

The Department of Welfare, Youth and Demographic Challenge presents the 2025 balance sheet of the programme, which served 464 people, similar to previous years, and confirms the rejuvenation of problematic consumer profiles.

Ninety-two per cent of the persons cared for are men and 63 per cent are between the ages of 18 and 35. In addition, 86 per cent are homeless or living in underprivileged homes and have very chronic dependency pathways and significant mental health problems . Nine out of ten users have active consumption and more than half have dual pathology.

The main substance is pregabaline, which contains more than half of the cases, followed by alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and heroin.

The report highlights the effectiveness of close community intervention: eight out of ten cases meet the agreed targets, such as improving health, reducing consumption, access to social resources or stabilising housing. Among the majority foreigners in the programme, the positive end rates are even higher.

Erdu was born in 2020 during the pandemic and operates directly on the street and in social and health resources, in coordination with social services, mental health, addiction centres, Lanbide, Ertzaintza and third sector organizations. The programme has an annual allocation of €300,000 and will be strengthened in 2026.

Counselor Nerea Melgosa has stressed that Erdi shows that "even in very harsh contexts it is possible to recover connections, health and life projects."

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