Chile's Araucanía launches youth survey app to strengthen drug prevention

The regional government of La Araucanía, together with the National Service for Prevention and Rehabilitation of Drug and Alcohol Use (SENDA), inaugurated a new application for the Youth and Well‑Being Survey. Aimed at second‑year secondary students, the app gathers data on risk and protective factors such as family support, friendships, school environment, leisure time and emotional well‑being. The tool builds on a previous survey that involved over 10,000 students across 175 schools. Findings highlighted a strong link between perceived parental affection and substance use: 33.2% of students reporting low parental warmth used marijuana, compared with 16.6% among those who felt supported. Similar patterns appeared for alcohol intoxication. Authorities intend to use the evidence to target preventive actions, reinforce family involvement, and shape public policies that protect children and adolescents.