Hugo Adolfo Miguez, esteemed psychologist and researcher, passed away on April 20 at the age of 75, following complications related to Covid-19. He graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters at the University of Buenos Aires and earned his PhD in Psychology (Magna Laude) from the University of Palermo. His academic journey also included graduation from the School of Psychology of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Costa Rica.
Miguez's professional career was marked by significant contributions to psychiatric epidemiology. He served as a tenured professor at the University of Costa Rica and directed the Research Department of the National Institute on Alcoholism of Costa Rica Central America from 1976 to 1987. As a researcher at the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET) from 1986 to 2011, he was also a member of the Institute of Drug Dependence at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Salvador.
He authored influential books including "The Mirror of Erised: Social Determinations of Alcohol Abuse," "Use of Psychoactive Substances: Social Research and Community Prevention," and "The Dark Glasses of Drugs," which continue to educate many students. His prolific contributions to scientific journals further solidified his legacy in the field.
Miguez's professional life began in Argentinian Patagonia, where he worked on community prevention programs within the public health system and occupational prevention programs with oil workers. His career took a pivotal turn during the military dictatorship in Argentina, leading to his emigration to Costa Rica, where he met Chilean psychiatrist Juan Marconi. This meeting cemented his dedication to the research and prevention of psychoactive substances from a community perspective.
In Argentina, he played a key role at the Undersecretary of Addiction Care (SADA) of the Province of Buenos Aires and the Secretariat of Comprehensive Drug Policies of the Nation (SEDRONAR). Notably, he conducted the first National Study on drugs in Argentina in 1999 and collaborated with the Addiction Education and Prevention Program of the Ministry of Education. He also directed the Institute on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (IAFA) in Costa Rica.
His pioneering work continued with the development of the first system of epidemiological windows on the consumption of psychoactive substances in hospital wards, schools, and community spaces in Argentina during the 1990s. He was a consultant for various national and international organizations on alcohol abuse and psychoactive substances, focusing especially on youth. In his later years, he explored sociobiology.
Miguez received the Acta Research Award for Latin America three times for his impactful work in Costa Rica (1982), Paraguay (1991), and the Province of Buenos Aires (2006).
Despite his professional achievements, Hugo Adolfo Miguez valued his roles as a mentor, colleague, and friend. His final message, written on his cell phone before being admitted to the intensive care unit, reflects his enduring commitment to his field and the people he served. He will be remembered for his contributions to science and his dedication to improving community health.