CEPCA Celebrates 25 Years of Prevention and Commitment to Ibiza's Young People

November 13, 2026

The Centre for the Study and Prevention of Addictive Behaviours (CEPCA) is marking 25 years of work in Ibiza, highlighting a quarter-century dedicated to prevention, education and supporting healthier choices among the island's children, teenagers and families.

Established in June 2001 by the Consell d'Eivissa, CEPCA has developed an important role in the island's approach to preventing addictive and risky behaviours. Its work has evolved alongside the challenges faced by younger generations, extending beyond traditional drug prevention to include digital technology, emotional wellbeing, relationships, sexuality, bullying and other issues affecting adolescent life.

Over the years, the organisation has built working relationships with schools, families, teachers and other local institutions, providing educational programmes, advice, research and awareness campaigns.

Its 25th anniversary offers an opportunity to recognise the contribution of prevention and education to the wellbeing of Ibiza's younger population.

25 Years of Prevention Work in Ibiza

CEPCA began operating in June 2001, initially focusing on preventing drug consumption and the misuse of technology, particularly through educational and family-based initiatives.

Its professionals gradually established relationships with primary and secondary schools across the island, working with teaching staff and school management teams to identify the issues affecting children and adolescents.

Maintaining this direct connection with educational centres has allowed CEPCA to adapt its programmes as new challenges emerge.

The organisation's work now covers a wider range of subjects related to health, personal development and social behaviour. Its approach focuses on providing reliable information, encouraging critical thinking and helping young people develop the skills needed to make informed decisions.

CEPCA operates across several areas, including education, family support, research, community initiatives and public awareness.

Working with Schools and Young People

Educational centres are one of the main settings for CEPCA's prevention programmes.

The organisation works with primary and secondary schools, providing activities designed around the ages, needs and circumstances of the students.

Three of its principal programmes are Controla't, Sextima! and En Parlam?

These initiatives address different aspects of adolescent development and prevention.

The En Parlam? programme, for example, uses health education to address subjects such as substance consumption, eating disorders, digital technology, social relationships and respectful behaviour.

Its purpose is not simply to provide information, but also to help students develop critical thinking, understand potential risks and build the confidence to make independent decisions.

CEPCA also develops activities specifically requested by schools, allowing teachers and educational teams to address issues that are particularly relevant to their students.

Prevention Goes Beyond Drugs and Addictive Substances

Although preventing drug consumption remains part of CEPCA's work, its activities reflect the changing challenges experienced by children and teenagers.

The organisation's educational programmes cover a broad range of subjects connected with physical, psychological and social health.

These include:

  • Alcohol, tobacco, vaping and other substances.

  • Problematic use of digital technology and social media.

  • Mental health and emotional wellbeing.

  • Eating disorders and body image.

  • Bullying, rejection and relationships between peers.

  • Healthy relationships, sexuality and sexual health.

  • Equality, diversity and respectful behaviour.

The intention is to provide young people with objective information and practical tools to recognise risky situations, question misconceptions and make decisions that protect their wellbeing.

This broader approach recognises that prevention involves more than discouraging harmful consumption. It also means helping young people develop healthy relationships, manage their emotions and navigate the social pressures they encounter.

Supporting Families and Educational Professionals

CEPCA's work also extends beyond the classroom.

Its family advisory programme provides guidance to relatives who have concerns about possible contact with addictive substances or behaviours within their household.

The service focuses particularly on primary and secondary prevention, helping families understand potential warning signs and consider appropriate ways to respond.

The organisation also provides advice to professionals and institutions seeking to develop preventive activities.

Its work involves coordination with teachers, school guidance departments, families, public institutions and other organisations across Ibiza.

This collaborative approach is important because prevention does not take place in isolation. The challenges faced by young people can involve their home environment, education, friendships and wider community.

Research to Understand the Challenges Facing Ibiza's Teenagers

Another important part of CEPCA's work is research into the behaviours, attitudes and experiences of the island's younger population.

Its studies on substance consumption among school students in Ibiza aim to identify patterns and understand how adolescents relate to different addictive behaviours.

The organisation also carries out research through its Sextima! programme, examining aspects of young people's affective and sexual health.

These studies help provide a clearer picture of the issues affecting adolescents and can inform the development of educational programmes and prevention campaigns.

By combining research with direct work in schools and families, CEPCA can adapt its activities to the changing needs of the island.

9,675 School Agendas Distributed for the 2026–2027 Academic Year

One recent example of CEPCA's work with young people is its school-agenda project for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Presented in September 2026, the initiative distributed 9,675 agendas across Ibiza's educational centres.

The Consell d'Eivissa distributed 4,219 agendas for primary-school students and 4,881 for secondary-school students. A further 575 primary-school agendas were financed by Ibiza Town Hall, extending the project to pupils in the first and second years of primary education at seven schools in the municipality.

The agendas are designed as more than organisational tools for students. They include educational content intended to encourage emotional awareness, prevention and positive relationships within the classroom.

The secondary-school edition features 15 young people from Ibiza who are involved in music, dance, sport, literature and social or environmental projects.

They were selected as local role models because of their commitment, initiative and achievements, offering students examples of young people making positive contributions to their community.

The content addresses mental health, time and study management, drugs and electronic cigarettes, bullying, rejection, relationships, sexuality, diversity and new masculinities.

The project also includes resources for families, while teachers have received a supporting dossier with guidance and suggestions for using the agendas in educational activities.

CEPCA's aim is to make the agendas useful throughout the school year, turning them into an additional resource for working on prevention and wellbeing rather than simply a place to record homework and appointments.

A Prevention Service Responding to a Changing Island

Twenty-five years after it began, CEPCA continues to work in an environment where the challenges facing young people are constantly evolving.

Digital habits, new forms of communication, changing social relationships and the pressures experienced during adolescence all require prevention programmes to remain relevant and responsive.

Its continued collaboration with schools and families allows the organisation to identify emerging needs and develop activities suited to the island's circumstances.

The anniversary also comes at a time when public institutions are placing renewed emphasis on addiction prevention and support services in the Balearic Islands.

The regional government has approved €127,488 in funding for addiction-related programmes coordinated with the Consell d'Eivissa during 2026, as part of the Balearic Islands' Comprehensive Addiction Plan for 2025–2032. This funding covers a wider range of addiction-related services and should not be understood as a direct allocation to CEPCA alone.

25 Years Looking Towards the Future

CEPCA's 25th anniversary recognises the work of the professionals, educational centres, families and institutions that have contributed to prevention initiatives across Ibiza since 2001.

Its development reflects an understanding that supporting young people requires more than reacting when problems arise. It means providing information early, creating opportunities for open conversations, identifying risks and helping adolescents develop the confidence and skills to make healthy decisions.

As the challenges facing new generations continue to change, CEPCA's work remains focused on education, prevention and the wellbeing of the island's young people.

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