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Information on some of the issues which affect young people including teen pregnancy, alcohol and drug use: where to find help and advice and the laws surrounding them in Spain...
INJUVE publishes health
guides on matters relevant to young people, including information on anorexia
and bulimia and mental health.
- Information
also from ERYICA (European Youth Information and
Counselling Agency)
Teenagers and alcohol
Spain
has similar youth alcohol issues to many other European countries including
France and the UK. Government studies in previous years show that a high
percentage of 14 to 18 year olds in Spain drink regularly.
- The Ministry
of Health is responsible for monitoring alcohol related issues and
publishes information on its website to discourage young people from
drinking: Alcohol and Youth (in
Spanish)
The
minimum drinking age is 18. Drinking in public areas is illegal and the police
may fine those who break this law.
Alcoholics Anonymous (Alcoholicos
Anonimos) is active in Spain and there is an English-language
version of its website. There are also English language meetings in many areas.
- Full details
can be found on the website: Alcoholics
Anonymous Spain
Teenagers and drugs
Figures
from ESPAD (European
School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs) survey released in 2009 show
that although drug use is wide spread among young people in Spain, the numbers
of young people smoking and taking illicit drugs has fallen according to 2014
figures.
Drug
use and possession for personal use of some drugs does not constitute a
criminal offence under Spanish law. However, public consumption and possession
is penalised with fines ranging from €300-€30,000. One clear difference is
Spain's marijuana policy - it encourages marijuana smokers to grow their own
product. Personal consumption and home cultivation have been decriminalised,
but buying or selling marijuana/hashish remains a criminal offence.
Drug prevention is a priority and community-based programmes organised by
health centres are increasingly available in schools.
Prevención
Familiar, is a family-based prevention initiative set up to provide support and
materials for professionals and families.
·
For information visit the Prevención Familiar website
- For
information from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug
Addiction: Spain's Drug Report
- For further
information on Spain's drug use from the Ministry of Health
Teenage pregnancy
Spain
has traditionally had low rates of teenage pregnancy compared to other European
countries. The family planning association, FPFE (Federacion
de Planificcacion Familiar de Espana) has a website section
aimed at young people with information on regional centres.
- For regional
contact details: youth centres (in
Spanish)
Contraception
is rarely free in Spain. The morning after pill (la
pildora del dia despues) is widely used and is sold on
prescription at pharmacies. Clinical abortion is legal and in some
instances a proportion of the cost is covered by social security.
Teenagers and smoking
In
Spain, the age at which tobacco can legally be bought and smoked is 18.