Enric Hidalgo: “We all know someone who has an addiction problem”

Another year has passed, and once again, the charity bazaar of Projecte Home Catalunya, a Catalan foundation born from the national Projecte Home initiative, is here. For a couple of months, we can find a wide variety of new electronic products, shoes, clothing, books, and any item that can be shipped with a significant discount. In addition to finding a great deal that suits us, by participating in this bazaar we will be helping people who truly need it. Since its inception in 1996, Projecte Home has become one of the most popular NGOs in the fight against drugs, with three main lines of action that have evolved over time: a care program, prevention of substance abuse, and raising social awareness through press conferences, the presentation of annual reports, and urging political groups to include the issues caused by drugs in our society on their agenda.

At Núñez i Navarro, we have also wanted to contribute to this cause by providing a central location at Buenaventura Muñoz, 15, free of charge and temporarily. And taking advantage of the fact that this market has just started, we wanted to have a chat with Enric Hidalgo, the person in charge of the project.

Enric, two years ago Oriol Esculies gave us the headline: five million people in Spain have problems with alcohol. Has the statistic improved?

It's more or less the same, because two years is a very short period to detect significant changes. In fact, those are state statistics. We have our own data, from our users in Catalonia and the situation is the same, in the sense that the two most common types of consumption among them are alcohol and cocaine. Sometimes in one order, sometimes in another, but always above 40% of the people we serve.

In the media, it seems that more and more people are dealing with this issue, especially with the inclusion of young people who don't know how to go out without having to drink or consume something... Can it also be considered an addiction?

This would be one of the causes. Addiction is a very complex issue and usually does not have a single cause. However, it is true that the association of alcohol or cocaine with partying is very common and plays a significant role in the beginning of consumption. If you add to that the personal or emotional issues the individual may have, we have the cocktail that leads to problematic use.

Do you treat very young people?

Between the ages of 14 and 16, we can already detect consumption that may start to be problematic, but it does not have the same impact as it does on an adult. This requires a more educational rather than therapeutic approach. In this regard, we have the Projecte Jove in Montgat, which is a resource for families and young people who are starting to lose control of their consumption: cannabis, new technologies...

Besides alcohol and narcotics, what other addictions do you treat at the foundation?

We define ourselves as an entity focused on prevention, rehabilitation, and reintegration of individuals with addiction issues, in general. In that regard, we concentrate on addressing the causes rather than the specific problems. Therefore, in certain programs, participants with various addictions may coincide. We work on the individual, seeking the root of their issues, because ultimately, the problems that lead to their consumption tend to be the same. And always with the goal of helping them become autonomous individuals, free from dependencies on substances, gambling, technology, etc.

It's surprising to read the news and see that heroin is being talked about again, a ghost we thought we had left behind. Have you guys noticed it?

Sometimes, in these phenomena, there tends to be a delay between the increase in consumption and the rise in the demand for help. We're talking about years. In the case of heroin, it's also necessary to distinguish the media phenomenon, since it's a drug associated with a period of significant social problems, crime... It's something very striking, even when talking about drug flats. In reality, our data indicate that the demand for attention due to heroin use is very residual and almost always involves people who have been consuming it for many years.

Which is the most vulnerable group for you and the one that needs more attention?

Prevention makes sense especially at ages ranging from the end of childhood to adolescence. We have a program called The Game of Keys that we offer in schools throughout all the ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education) courses. A simple talk is not enough. We must go deeper. Bullying can be a cause that leads to addiction. Therefore, our program starts in the 1st year of ESO and continues up to the age of 16. We must intervene at the right time, when the young person is opening up to the world. It is then that we must act and make them see that any unresolved problem can lead to a cause.

What is your opinion on sports betting and the huge amount of advertising they receive during matches and with familiar faces?

We are very concerned, both with this issue and with online gaming. It's very accessible to young people. That's why we must provide them with the tools to manage their emotions and their lives and to become aware that they don't need that game. There are already many addictions and this compels us to be in contact with social agents to detect any new phenomena, such as Fortnite. Unfortunately, legislation always lags behind and by the time it acts, a lot of damage has already been done.

As an NGO, our role is not only to assist people but also to denounce or warn that the administrations are not doing enough or about the dangers that a certain substance or activity may entail.

Do you get the feeling that despite everything, people still have a low perception of risk?

In general, the feeling is that the perception of risk is low, especially with substances like cannabis. There's also a belief that bad things happen to others. But when it comes down to it, we all have it close by. We all know someone in our social circle who has an addiction problem with substance “X”. And yet, we still fail to take action.

Once again the solidarity market arrives. What products will we be able to find there?

Every year we receive products from footwear, clothing, electronics, hardware, books, kitchen utensils. We are like a big department store in miniature. There's a bit of everything.

Are these products new or refurbished?

Everything is brand new and comes with a warranty. If anyone has any problems using it, they can come to us just like any other store. Plus, everything is 50% off.

How long will the flea market last?

In two months we usually sell out all the stock. This year we opened this week and until November 23-24, but always approximately. And that is possible thanks to Núñez i Navarro, who has given us the premises, and the 35 volunteers who help us selflessly in this flea market to be able to finance the treatment of those who cannot afford it.

What are the sales forecasts? How has it worked other times?

Fortunately, every year they become more well-known, so we hope that each year we do a little better. Last year we were above €30,000 in profit. Still, there's a greater benefit which is making ourselves known to people, and that is priceless.

Regarding the premises, how was the negotiation with Núñez i Navarro? Was the space suitable for your needs?

The relationship is always very easy and cordial. We have visited several commercial premises that have been offered to us and we ended up choosing this one on Buenaventura Muñoz because it is a very central location, next to Arc de Triomf and because it is a place full of life. The place is very good because it is very large and with a very good layout. We are very happy.