Premier Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella on Friday called for a renewed national effort to confront the growing challenge of addictions. Speaking at the seventh National Conference on Addictions, held at the Auditorium della Tecnica in Rome, both leaders urged for coordinated, long-term solutions to address what they described as one of Italy’s most pressing social issues.
“Old addictions overlap and intertwine with new ones, generating fragility and problems often unknown in the past,” Meloni said in her address. “This complex reality requires courageous, concrete, and far-sighted responses.” The prime minister warned that modern society faces an increasingly complicated picture, in which traditional dependencies such as drugs and alcohol coexist with behavioural addictions tied to technology, gaming, and gambling.
President Mattarella echoed her concerns, describing addiction as “a tragedy of lives destroyed by the perverse presence of organised crime.” He said that tackling the issue demands “a conscious commitment, constant determination, and a collective effort,” adding that “no one will be alone” in this national struggle. For Mattarella, the fight against drugs and other dependencies represents “a front of freedom” that touches on the dignity and health of the nation.
Pope Leo XIV also contributed to the conference with a video message that expanded the discussion beyond substance abuse. “In recent times, new forms have been added to addictions such as drugs or alcohol,” he said. “The growing use of the internet, computers, and smartphones is associated not only with clear benefits but also with excessive use that often leads to addictions with negative health consequences, such as compulsive gambling and pornography.” The Pope described addiction as an obsession, reflecting deeper mental and emotional suffering, and called for compassion, education, and community-based approaches to healing.
Conference against addictions
The conference, which brought together policymakers, healthcare experts, and social workers, highlighted the need for integrated strategies combining prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. Italian authorities have expressed growing concern about the rise of behavioural addictions, particularly among younger generations, where excessive use of digital devices and online gaming has been linked to anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
Meloni’s government has pledged to strengthen coordination between health services, schools, and law enforcement to address the root causes of addiction. Mattarella’s remarks also underscored the role of organised crime in perpetuating drug abuse and illicit gambling, framing the problem as both a social and moral challenge.
Pope Leo XIV’s intervention brought a spiritual dimension to the debate, urging society to treat addiction not simply as a personal failing but as a symptom of wider distress. “The object of addiction becomes an obsession,” he said, “with behaviours that are a symptom of mental or internal distress.”
