Tenerife Launches Community-Based Pilot Programs to Tackle Substance Abuse

The Tenerife Island Council has launched two new pilot projects, CONTROLA and REINTEGRA, signaling a major shift in how the island manages public health. Instead of focusing solely on hospital care, the new strategy prioritizes early intervention within the community to address the widespread use of benzodiazepines and alcohol-related health issues.

The move comes as data shows the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has higher-than-average alcohol risk indicators, and nearly a quarter of the regional population uses psychotropic drugs. Under the leadership of Rosa Dávila, the island government has designed a 12-month plan to move support services out of hospitals and directly into local areas.

The CONTROLA program will focus on adults up to age 55 who are beginning to use benzodiazepines. It will prioritize rural towns with fewer than 20,000 residents, offering non-drug-based therapies. Meanwhile, the REINTEGRA initiative will support patients recovering from alcohol-related digestive issues, providing follow-up care after they are discharged from the Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria University Hospital across 14 municipalities.

Councilor Juan Acosta is overseeing the use of multidisciplinary teams—including psychologists and social workers—to identify and address substance use patterns that often go unnoticed until they become critical. By integrating these programs into the Canary Islands Addiction Plan and partnering with the local health service, the council aims to build a prevention network that reaches deep into the community rather than just operating within clinics.

These pilot projects, which offer both individual and group support, aim to reduce the burden on emergency services and improve the quality of life for vulnerable residents. If successful, this model could set a new standard for how mental health and addiction services are delivered across the island.