The Queen has led FAD Juventud as honorary president since 2015. In its anniversary video she calls for protecting young people’s mental health and building safe environments.
Television campaigns from four decades of FAD history appear alongside Queen Letizia in a new anniversary video. The foundation’s honorary president uses it to warn against drugs, violence and digital addictions, while urging people to protect young people’s mental health.
“No a las drogas” is her opening line. She spells out the effects she links to substance use: “No a las drogas, no al consumo de sustancias que afectan a nuestro cerebro, a nuestras relaciones sociales, a nuestra familia, a nuestro futuro”. The recording intercuts her remarks with television campaigns from the foundation’s history, raising awareness among young people about the risks of drug use.
Letizia also says: “No al acoso, a la violencia de género, a la ciberviolencia, a las adicciones digitales. Sí a cuidar la salud mental”. The message shifts to prevention, with an image of the game Tetris behind her. “FAD Juventud lleva 40 años enganchando a la vida”, she says, pointing to information, dialogue and education as tools for responsible decisions.
Her connection with the organisation began in 2015, when she took over as honorary president from doña Sofía, who had held the role since 1987. Since then, Letizia has attended meetings and work sessions tied to the foundation’s programmes and studies.
Founded in 1986 on the initiative of General Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado during Spain’s heroin crisis, the private, independent non-profit organisation was originally called Fundación de Ayuda contra la Drogadicción. Its first focus was preventing drug addiction. Over four decades, FAD Juventud has widened its work to address issues affecting adolescents and young people, including digital risks, violence, mental health and employment.
FAD Juventud researches young people’s circumstances and emerging risks. It also develops education, training and guidance programmes in Spain and Latin America, alongside public-awareness campaigns. Its current work covers addiction and violence prevention, digital risks, youth employment, emotional health and civic participation.
During the pandemic, Letizia chaired meetings on how the health crisis affected young people’s employment, health and living conditions. The foundation also offers free, confidential guidance to people aged 15 to 29 on issues such as anxiety, emotional distress, relationships, drug use and family conflict.
FAD Juventud shared the anniversary video on its social media accounts and thanked the Queen for joining the celebration. The week also included Letizia’s appearance on Monday in “El telediario de nuestras vidas”, a TVE special marking the broadcaster’s 70th anniversary and recalling its news presenters.
