The author believes that the Ser.D. (addiction services) plays a key role inside a whole operating system where also NGOs belonging to the civil society considerably interact. Notwithstanding the "linear cuts" to the National Health System which progressively reduced staff and performances, the Ser.D. got credibility because of their referral to scientific evidences and human rights which influenced intervention methodology and protected users from authoritarian menaces. The continuous change of psico-active substances consumption asks Ser.D. for a strategy perspective which includes together social, health and educational dimensions.
Keywords: Whole system, civil society, integration, interdependency, scientific evidence, human rights.