Sierra de las Nieves Strengthens Addiction Prevention and Youth Well-Being with the Participation of 677 Schoolchildren from the Region
The Association of Municipalities of Sierra de las Nieves has concluded another edition of the “Sierra de las Nieves Without Drugs” program, a preventive initiative carried out during the 2025–2026 school year that involved 677 elementary and secondary school students from the region, establishing itself as one of the main tools for promoting healthy lifestyles among children and youth.
The program was carried out in the municipalities of Alozaina, Casarabonela, El Burgo, Istán, Monda, Ojén, Tolox, and Yunquera, with the participation of ten schools and the active collaboration of the local governments, families, and the educational community.
Of the 677 participants, 354 were boys and 323 were girls. In addition, the Family School—one of the complementary initiatives promoted as part of the program—was attended by 58 people, of whom 48 were women and 10 were men, thereby strengthening family involvement in preventive strategies.
Throughout the school year, preventive sessions have been held in schools, along with educational meetings with families, awareness campaigns, and participatory activities aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and strengthening the personal and social skills of young people in the region.
Among the highlights was the 3rd Regional Advertising Spot Contest, in which the winning entry was created by 2nd-year ESO students at CEIP Serafín Estébanez in Casarabonela. In addition, the “DesenRÉDate” activity was held, focusing on digital well-being and the responsible use of screens, along with a joint audiovisual campaign to raise awareness and engage the community, featuring preventive messages aimed at the entire population.
The activities carried out have addressed key issues for students’ personal and social development, including addiction prevention, emotional well-being, digital literacy, healthy use of screens and social media, prevention of bullying and cyberbullying, peer pressure, responsible decision-making, positive social interaction, self-esteem, and social skills.
José Miguel Marín, president of the Sierra de las Nieves Association of Municipalities and mayor of Istán, emphasized that prevention remains one of the most effective tools for protecting young people from addiction and other emerging risks.
“At the Sierra de las Nieves Association of Municipalities, we are committed to prevention efforts that are accessible, ongoing, and tailored to the realities of our young people. Fostering healthy habits, emotional well-being, and critical thinking from an early age is the best investment we can make in the future of our region,” he said.
Marín particularly praised the involvement of the entire educational community and the coordinated efforts carried out throughout the region. “The success of this program lies in the collaboration between local governments, schools, teachers, and families. When all institutions and social stakeholders work toward the same goal, we are able to create safer and healthier environments for our children and adolescents.”
He also emphasized the importance of addressing the new challenges associated with the digital environment. “Today, prevention cannot be limited solely to substance use. We must respond to new realities such as excessive screen time, social media, and cyberbullying, by providing our young people with the tools they need to navigate the digital world in a responsible and healthy way.”
Marín highlighted the initiative’s regional scope. “The participation of the eight municipalities and ten schools confirms that ‘Sierra de las Nieves Sin Drogas’ has become a flagship program in the region, capable of creating a coordinated network dedicated to the well-being of children and youth.”
For her part, the program coordinator, Isabel del Moral, highlighted the comprehensive nature of the activities carried out during the school year. “We have worked on fundamental aspects of the students’ personal and social development, such as self-esteem, emotional regulation, decision-making, peer pressure, and positive social interaction, always from a participatory perspective and tailored to each educational stage,” she explained.
Del Moral also highlighted the positive reception of the activities aimed at families and the program’s growing presence throughout the region. “Family involvement is an essential element of any prevention strategy. The response to the Family School demonstrates the existing interest in having tools that help support children in such important areas as digital education and the prevention of risky behaviors.”
The overall assessment of this edition is very positive, as it has helped strengthen the preventive work being carried out in the region and consolidate a network of collaboration between institutions and the educational community. In this way, “Sierra de las Nieves Sin Drogas” continues to establish itself as a leading resource for promoting the well-being, health, and holistic development of children and youth, helping to foster a more informed, responsible, and committed citizenry that embraces healthy lifestyles.
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