June 26th is the World Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, the service that deals with addictions in the province of Arezzo has seen a progressive return to the volumes of users treated in 2019. As regards the Arezzo area there was a slight decrease in the number of people taken into care for substance addiction: there were 933 in 2022, which then became 905 in 2023 (-4.1%). Also in Casentino and Valdichiana Aretina there were slight decreases in people taken into care by the Addiction Service, -3.3% and -5.6% respectively. In Casentino in 2023, 118 people were followed (there were 122 in 2022), in Valdichiana we went from 180 in 2022 to 152 in 2023. A positive sign, even if only slightly, in Valdarno: +2.7%. Here the people with disorders linked to the use of substances were 466 in 2022, while in 2023 they were 479. The situation in Valtiberina is different, which experienced a significant increase in 2023: +21.8%, going from 137 people taken into loaded by the Ser.D of the territory to 167 of 2023.
The data tell of a slightly increasing trend of people being treated in the 12 Ser.D of the Tuscany South East ASL: from 3805 in 2021 (-8.37% on 2019) we went to 3867 in 2022 (+1.6% on 2021) and 3942 in 2023 (+1.9% compared to 2022). On a national scale, the numbers indicate that there are approximately 500 thousand people with problems related to substance use who require specialist treatment; in the 573 Italian Ser.D there are actually 129,259 patients in care (2022 data) of which 17,497 (13.5%) are new users and 111,672 old users (86.5%). There is a large prevalence of males (86%), mainly of Italian nationality (91.4%). The Ser.D. therefore they manage to intercept approximately 25% of those who would need treatment.
“There is an increase in young people, who anticipate the behaviors and disorders of adults. In all the areas of the Company – underlines Marco Becattini, Director of the UOC of Drug Addiction Medicine in Arezzo and Head of the Departmental Area of Addictions of the Local Health Authority South East – a great deal of synergy has been carried out between the operators of the Addiction Functional Units and those of the other district services. It is essential to build a path that puts the fragile person and family at the centre”
“Maximum attention – continues Becattini – is being paid to the spread of Fentanyl which is killing many people in the United States and seizures of this substance by the police have also affected Italy. The extensive checks carried out by the Provincial Analysis Laboratory of the South East Tuscany Local Health Authority have not yet confirmed the spread of this very powerful drug in our territories. Another worrying aspect is the progressive increase in people in their 50s and 60s with socio-relational distress exacerbated by the prolonged use of substances: women and men who experience situations of radical loneliness and marginalization. Addiction services can be accessed without reservation and without a prescription. Finally, please remember that the services are free and anonymous. You can stop, but you need help.”
The Ser.D in the Province of Arezzo
AREZZO c/o SerD Via Fonte Veneziana, 0575/255943
From Monday to Saturday 8.30am-1.30pm
Contact Dr. Marco Becattini
CASENTINO c/o Bibbiena Hospital Viale Turati n.55,0575/568220
From Monday to Saturday 8:00-13:00
Contact Dr. Serenella Sassoli
VALDARNO ARETINO c/o SerD Via Podgora 1, Montevarchi 055/9106732
From Monday to Friday 8:00-14:00
Contact Dr. Donatella Bonechi
VALTIBERINA c/o SerD Via Santi di Tito n.24, Sansepolcro 0575/757942
From Monday to Friday 8.30am-1.00pm
Tuesday and Thursday 3.30pm-6.30pm
Contact Dr. Marco Baldi
VALDICHIANA c/o SerD Via Madonna del Rivaio n.87, Castiglion Fiorentino 0575/639941
From Monday to Saturday 8:00-13:30
Contact Dr. Fabrizia Giusti
