Andorra Health Minister Reports Tobacco, Alcohol Decline but Youth, Elderly Rises

Health Minister Helena Mas reports overall decline in tobacco and alcohol use, but highlights rises among youth and elderly

Health Minister Helena Mas told the General Council that recent surveys show tobacco and alcohol consumption trending downward across Andorra, with the exception of binge drinking episodes and other addictive behaviours among young people and the elderly.

The remarks came during Thursday's session in response to concerns raised by Pere Baró, deputy leader of the Social Democrat group. Baró warned of growing addictive behaviours between 2011 and 2024, according to the national health survey, and criticised the lack of current data. He argued that healthcare records only reflect those seeking treatment, missing undetected cases or individuals not yet needing help. Baró called for stronger prevention and early detection, especially among seniors, and stressed the difficulty of measuring addiction trends without comprehensive information.

Mas acknowledged the need for better detection and outlined government responses, including a new adolescent health survey from last year with results due in weeks. She also announced the launch of the Andorran Mental Health Observatory to improve tracking. The minister noted significant investments, such as doubling mental health staffing, expanding outpatient psychology, and operating the 177 suicide prevention hotline and chat support. This year, the line has prompted five decisive SUM activations to prevent suicides.

While Baró faulted the government for insufficient planning due to outdated data, Mas countered that efforts align with regular national surveys every four years and multiple sources. She rejected claims of poor preparation, pointing to school workshops, senior programmes, and anti-smoking initiatives under the National Health Pact.

On evaluation, Mas said each measure uses specific indicators, professional reviews, participant feedback, and international benchmarks to assess impact, with the observatory set to refine monitoring further. A broader substance abuse survey is slated for release next month, offering detailed profiles and trends.