This center, managed by the Institute of Addictions of Madrid Salud, provides care to individuals with addictions residing permanently in Cañada Real who suffer significant biopsychosocial deterioration. Its objective is to improve their basic health conditions, reduce risks associated with substance use, and facilitate their connection with the addiction treatment network.
Launched in 2019, the municipal facility has included an Overdose Prevention Room since 2024, dedicated to supervising, raising awareness, and informing about intravenous drug use, as well as reducing public consumption.
During 2025, the center monitored 188 individuals (133 men and 55 women). 77% of users were Spanish and 23% were immigrants, mostly in irregular administrative situations. The most represented age group was 46 to 65 years old (52%), followed by 26 to 45 years old (47%). Their residential situation highlighted their high vulnerability, with 174 people sleeping on the street.
The primary substances consumed were cocaine, speedball, and heroin. Key actions in 2025 included 26 referrals to addiction services, 12 to homeless support services, 188 accompaniments, and 1,520 coordinations with other resources. In the socio-health field, medication intake support was provided on 138 occasions, 256 wound dressings were performed, and 36,743 services related to food, showers, laundry, and clothing were provided.
The Overdose Prevention Room was used 572 times by 45 distinct individuals, aimed at preventing risky situations, reducing harm from intravenous use, and facilitating immediate medical intervention in a safe environment.
Harm reduction is a public health strategy designed to mitigate the negative consequences associated with substance use. In Cañada Real, it brings socio-health care closer to a particularly vulnerable population that cannot or does not wish to stop consuming and is often severely excluded.
The facility operates on two intervention lines: psychosocial intervention (outreach, engagement, open-environment intervention, basic health and social care, emotional support, guidance, resource accompaniment, hygiene care, meals, laundry, clothing storage, and basic administrative support) and overdose prevention (consumption supervision, provision of sterile single-use materials, information on lower-risk practices, and necessary medical attention).
