Helplines and Support Groups on the Costa del Sol

Child abuse, drink or drug problems, HIV/AIDS, Red Cross, cancer support, information for the homeless - your helplines, support groups and emergency contacts on the Costa del Sol...

Below are the contact numbers for Spanish help lines and support groups. Note that there is no guarantee English will be spoken.

Helplines

Spanish Red Cross (Cruz Roja)

The Spanish Red Cross provides help for drug addicts and their families, people affected by HIV, immigrants and the elderly. There are Red Cross assistance centres and help points all over the Costa del Sol and Andalucia. The centres offer emergency and psychological help and a meeting place and shelter. Further services include social integration classes and first aid courses, assistance in finding accommodation, treatment for drug addiction and mobile methadone units. Helping minors is a special priority.

• Red Cross
  At: Cruz Roja Malaga, Paseo de la Farola, 29016 Málaga
  Tel: 952 217 631/2
  

Support Groups

Drug and alcohol addiction support

Narcotics Anonymous: A 12-step program for recovering drug addicts. NA meetings in English are available on the Costa del Sol.

• Narcotics Anonymous Spain (Narcóticos Anónimos España)
  Tel: 902 114 147
  
• To obtain information on English-language Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Spain: e-mail
• To find a list of Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Spain: Click here

Alcoholics Anonymous: A 12-step program for recovering alcoholics. There are English-language AA meetings held on the Costa del Sol.

Adult Children of Alcoholics: A 12-step program for adult children of alcoholics. Online support meetings are available.

• For ACA support on the Costa del Sol, Tel: 607 461 748

Eating disorder support

Overeaters Anonymous: A 12-step recovery program and support for those who are compulsive eaters.

• Overeaters Anonymous
  Tel: 630 535 033
  
• For a list of Overeaters Anonymous meetings in Spain: Click here

Support groups for the elderly

Age Care Association: Group of volunteers that offers welfare information and advice as well as home and hospital visits to elderly members of the community.

• Age Care Association
  Tel: 952 960 372

Age Concern Estepona y Manilva: The Estepona branch covers the area from Sotogrande to San Pedro de Alcantara. Volunteers assist the elderly with Spanish paperwork, clinic and hospital appointments or help with shopping.

• Age Concern Estepona and Manilva
  At: Apartado 178, 29692 Sabinillas
  Tel: 951 318 234
  e-mail
  

Support groups for children and parents

Aspandem: A parents' support group for couples with mentally disabled children. Aspandem has a secondhand shop in San Pedro de Alcantara; proceeds are channelled to needy children.

• Aspandem (in Spanish)
  At: Avenida Principe de Asturias, San Pedro de Alcantara
  Tel: 952 787 650
  Open: 10:00-13:00 Monday-Saturday and 16:00-18:00 every Wednesday

Ciudad de los Ninos: Residential centre for disadvantaged children and young people; run by monks from the Catholic religious order Hermanos Obreros de Maria it is approved and monitored by the Andalusian Regional Government.

• Ciudad de los Ninos
  At: Finca los Asperos, Malaga
  Tel: 952 179 150
  e-mail
  

Horizontes: Non-governmental organisation helping young drug addicts and providing after-school clubs for underprivileged children in Marbella. They run three day centres for children who have limited family support or who are HIV positive.

• Horizontes
  Tel: 952 775 353

Cancer Support

Cudeca (Cuidados del Cancer): The Cudeca Cancer Care Hospice Centre in Benalmadena offers specialist nursing, hospice care and support to cancer patients and their families.

• Cudeca
  At: Avenida del Cosmos s/n, Arroyo de la Miel, 29631 Málaga
  Tel: 952 564 910
  Fax: 952 564 922
  e-mail