Portugal

Prevention and Treatment of Drug Addiction Service

Serviço de Prevenção e Tratamento da Toxicodependência

S.P.T.T.

Since 1973 that we have specialised drug addiction treatment services in Portugal. The first one was created on the "Santa Maria" Hospital" in Lisbon since. On the second half of seventies more exactly in 1977 and after the creation of GCCD in 1976, the first drug related governmental organisation focused on the fight co-ordination against the illegal drugs, the state created more three specialised centers located at Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra, and assigned their management to the GCCD. For a great period of time nothing noticeable was done regarding the treatment of drug addictions. Only ten years later, in 1987 and within Projecto VIDA created in the same year, the state retaken the enlargement of the drug addiction treatment services. The Ministry of health created one new center specialised on drug addictions, the "Centro das Taipas". Based on the Taipas experience the state created more two specialised treatment, prevention and social reinsertion units. In 1990 the needs concerning the reorganisation, co-ordination, development and the creation of more of this specialised centers have lead to the creation, within the health ministry, of the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Addiction Service, ("Serviço de Prevenção e Tratamento da Toxicodependência") (SPTT). To the SPTT was entrusted the implementation and management of the addicts supports centers, "Centros de Apoio aos Toxicodependentes" (CATS). The Drugs Prophylaxy Study Centers were also integrated on SPTT. Since then many ambulatory units have been created by the SPTT in collaboration with the Regional Health Services Administrations (ARS). At the present time (1997) there is 38 CATS around Portugal, 9 at north of the country, 11 at the middle, 13 at Lisbon and Tejo valley, 5 at south including the Alentejo. Besides the SPTT units, a large number private drug addicts care units of have been created, some of then gives free help and others only give paid assistance.

The SPTT with headquarters in Lisbon, is the authority in the primary, secondary and tertiary drug addiction prevention at the national level. It is chaired by Dr. João Goulão, and have financial, administrative and technical autonomy, under the tutelage of the Health Minister.

To execute his assignments, the competence's of SPTT are the following:

  1. Planning, executing and evaluate the drug addiction prevention, treatment and social reinsertion, by itself or in collaboration with others public or private entities that work in drug addiction field.
  2. Collaborating in the execution and evaluation of Projecto VIDA, and also in the preparation of the annual plans done by the High Commissar.
  3. Granting technical support to public and private entities.
  4. Proposing the measures judged convenient concerning the medical substances control regime and circulation or concerning substances that might cause addiction. This is done without prejudice of the proper competencies of the Medicine and Pharmacy Institute.
  5. co-operating with national or foreigners organisations.
  6. Instruct the licensing of processes concerning drug addiction private care units.
  7. Collaborating with the Health General Directory to ensure the continuity of the addicts treatments between the health care services integrated in the national health system and the units of the SPTT.

SPTT - Prevention and Treatment of Drug Addiction Service

Address:
Ministério da Saude - SPTT- Serviço de Prevenção e Tratamento da toxicodependência
Av. Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, 87-4º - 1050 Lisboa
Portugal

Telefone: +351 1 726 96 95
email - sptt@esoterica.pt

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