- In this third episode of Generation EdTech, Manuel Mingorance, director and president of Proyecto Hombre Granada, explains the organisation’s approach to the rehabilitation of people with addiction problems.
Founded in 2000, Proyecto Hombre Granada has a proven track record of more than 20 years working day in, day out, to treat and prevent addiction in this province.
On this occasion, we are joined by EdTech Generation Manuel Mingorance, president of Proyecto Hombre Granada, in a conversation centred on the problem of addiction in today’s world. Throughout the interview, which is available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts, Mingorance highlights how addictions have evolved, bringing together both the «old ghosts», such as alcohol and drugs, with the «new addictions» related to technology.
«We live in a society of constant stimuli that seeks immediate gratification. We rely on consuming anything – whether it be a substance or not – in order to keep up. This will lead to problematic cases within a few years.»
But we are not just talking about the future; the president of Proyecto Hombre also analyses the current situation, which is characterised by the «lack of social alarm» and the lack of awareness.
«In the 1980s, there was widespread public concern and many organisations were set up. Today, there is no such concern, but there is a very serious problem with addiction. There are thousands upon thousands of people who have an addiction problem and do not seek help, which can lead to suicide. In 2002, there were 4,003 suicides, a sign that people do not know how to cope with their problems.».
Mingorance helps us to outline the various characteristics of a person with an addiction. Given the marked difference between men and women in the province, 19% versus 81% for men.
«I believe that, deep down, an addict is a person who is maladjusted to their environment. From a young age, they may have experienced family breakdown, been bullied or suffered from low self-esteem. They have not had sufficient personal and social skills to cope with life.»
With regard to the recovery rates and the programmes run by Proyecto Hombre, its president tells us that they can lasted for about a year and a half, until the patient is discharged from therapy .
«When we discharge a patient from treatment, the success rate without relapse is around 85%, and most of them are successfully reintegrated into society and the workplace. A person who has fallen and got back up is stronger than one who has never fallen.«
To conclude, Manuel Mingorance asks us to reconsider the current situation. According to data from the World Health Organisation, every year there are 2.6 million deaths attributable to alcohol consumption and more than half a million due to the use of psychoactive substances.
Therefore, in this episode of Generation EdTech We emphasise the importance of asking for help, seeking professional support and, ultimately, living a happier life, being in control of our own lives.
