Querétaro health officials launch addiction prevention program

The State Council Against Addictions (CECA) of the Querétaro Health Secretariat has expanded its “Voces del Cambio” (Voices of Change) strategy to secondary schools in Huimilpan and Amealco. The recent sessions involved 464 students and their parents at the Jesús Romero Flores and Rafael Ramírez schools.

CECA Commissioner Sebastián Granados Ponce stated that the program aims to involve families in addiction prevention by using real-life testimonies to foster dialogue and identify risk behaviors. A unique aspect of the strategy is its link to social reintegration: individuals who have completed the prison system share their experiences with youth and are provided with formal employment opportunities.

The program currently operates in nine municipalities and has reached a total of 2,675 participants at the secondary school level. Local authorities, including Huimilpan Mayor Jairo Morales Martínez, expressed support for the initiative, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts between schools, families, and government institutions to protect minors.