Health plans, addiction plans and information systems: the approach to addictions in the Spanish Autonomous Communities

e202512084

Abstract

BACKGROUND // Addictive behaviors are an important direct cause of avoidable morbidity and mortality in Spain. Our aim was to evaluate the available data on addictions in the most recent health plans and specific addiction plans of the autonomous cities and communities (AACC) of Spain, and to examine the systems of information and surveillance used.

METHODS // A review of the different institutional websites of each autonomous city and community was performed; the search was completed in August 2025, and those plans whose final implementation period extended into the last decade (after 2014) were selected.

RESULTS // Seventeen autonomous health plans and nineteen specific addiction plans were selected. The substance addictions covered in these plans differed according to the Autonomous community, but most included data on tobacco, alcohol, hypnosedatives, and cannabis. Cantabria, the Community of Madrid, the Valencian Community, the Principality of Asturias, and Melilla focused exclusively on substance addictions in their addiction plans. Gambling and compulsive use of the Internet were the most common non-substance addictions. The main sources of information and surveillance that provided data on prevalence were the EDADES and ESTUDES surveys, regional health or drug surveys, and state or regional systems of information on drug addictions. The Autonomous Observatories on drugs were present in eleven AACC.

CONCLUSIONS // The data included in the regional plans and the sources of information on addictions are heterogeneous. It is necessary to update, extend and homogenize the health and addiction plans, as well as the systems of information and surveillance, of each AC to be able to adequately analyze and monitor addictive behaviors.