To deal with the growing abuse of psychoactive substances (cannabinoids, opioids, other illegal drugs and alcohol), Regione Veneto has set up an integrated system of public and private services for prevention, rehabilitation, social and occupation reintegration, and prevention of relapse.
In the 1990s (Note 1) the Regions were given the task of preventing and intervening against the use of drugs or psychotropic substances through services for drug addiction (Ser.T), established within the Local Health Authorities; they were also given the operational tools to carry out these regional services.
National regulations state that voluntary groups and not-for-profit auxiliary bodies can work with local authorities and Ser.T to prevent psycho-social problems, offer assistance, treatment, rehabilitation and reinsertion of drug addicts. These associations aim to inform young people, promote social-cultural character development, professional training and career guidance.
Surveys reveal that in the Veneto region there is a rich, well-articulated framework of public and private services, out-patient, day care and residential services, accompanied by self-help groups and voluntary associations that deal with drug addiction and alcoholism.
This system includes 21 addiction departments, 38 centres for drug addiction (Ser.T), 5 State treatment centres, 31 auxiliary bodies with over 50 centres (so-called private treatment centres), over 600 self-help groups, especially for alcoholism, and over 60 voluntary associations.
Through this structured network of services, a significant share of drug addicts and alcoholics receive assistance. In particular over the last ten years there has been a constant increase in the number of people receiving assistance. In 2001, 13,201 drug addicts received assistance compared to 14,197 in 2008. The figure for alcoholics rose from 7,648 in 2001 to 11,827 in 2008 (Figure 14.5.1).
Males account for 83.4% of the drug addicts receiving care and females 16.5%; 30% are aged between 20 and 30, 36% between 30 and 40, and 5% between 15 and 19. In 71% of cases, addicts take heroin, while it is significant, though secondary, that 31.5% take cannabis and 29% cocaine.
Measures taken consist mainly in methadone treatment (38.2%), psychosocial treatment (30%), treatment with no-replacement drugs (18.3%) and treatment with buprenorphine (11.7%). The main reasons for discharging a user include completion of treatment (18.6%), in other unsolved cases users are sent elsewhere (23.2%), users leave or escape (21.5%), or terminate their treatment (18.9%).
Males account for 77.9% of the alcoholics receiving assistance and females 22.1%. Most are aged 40-49 (27.5%), followed by the 50-59 age group (23.8%).
The drink most cited for causing problems is wine (67.4%); 7.5% of the alcoholics also take drugs and 4.3% take psychoactive drugs.
The most common treatment for alcoholics is through medical-pharmacological day care (28.3%), individual or family counselling (28.4%), followed by placement in self-help groups.

Services in the field of exclusion and prison aim to promote regional action plans in favour of detainees and those carrying out non-custodial sentences, victims of abuse and sexual exploitation (Note 2), people in extreme poverty and the homeless (Note 3).
Regional services are outlined in guidelines for a partnership model between public bodies and the tertiary sector; these guidelines favour co-planning and collaboration on a local basis between various bodies to avoid fragmented competition and to support the implementation of regional networks that promote social inclusion.
On a provincial level, Regione Veneto has promoted plans for the social inclusion of victims of abuse and sexual exploitation, plans which are led by the seven capital municipalities; beneficiaries also include those in conditions of extreme hardship and the homeless.
In 2008, in collaboration with the Ministry for Justice, 29 socio-educational projects for detainees and those serving non-custodial sentences were carried out by the tertiary sector, with the aim of promoting the social reinsertion of the target group (Table 14.5.1).