Réunion held its “Addictions Week” from 6 to 11 October 2025, led by Les Maillons de l’Espoir and the Club d’animation de prévention with support from ARS La Réunion and the city of Saint-Denis. This eighth edition focused on women and addictions, highlighting how stigma, fear of losing custody, and co-occurring problems like anxiety can delay care. Local CSAPA teams used the week to reinforce women-friendly access and support, echoing calls from Dr David Mété at CHU Nord de Saint-Denis to keep prevention visible year-round.

The need is clear. ORS data from 2023 show three in four residents drink alcohol at least once a year, one in four weekly, and one in twenty daily. The prefecture reports alcohol’s presence in most intrafamily violence cases, which make up more than half of offenses against persons, and links alcohol to a quarter of fatal road crashes in 2024. These figures underline why addictions remain a major public health priority on the island.

The program mixed conferences, debates, prevention days, school activities, and a cine-debate on 10 October at Cinépalme Saint-Denis featuring “Des jours meilleurs,” a film about women’s alcohol use and recovery. For anyone seeking help now, CSAPA services and Addictions France Réunion provide confidential and free support across the island.

Find more from IMAZ Press (France, October 2025)