As Mexico's traffickers ship drugs north, they leave addicts in their wake

Exponential growth in the trafficking of drugs through Mexico destined for the large consumer market to the north is leaving a growing number of addicts in its wake.

Heroin, crack cocaine, and methamphetamines were once unheard of in Mexico, but today rehabilitation centers are filled with addicts. Being the top supplier of illegal drugs to the US has made Mexico a consumer nation, too, as cartels have sought to expand the local market over the past decade.

Illegal drug use in Mexico still well below levels in the United States rose 87 percent between 2002 and 2011, according to the latest national survey of addictions. In the survey, 1.5 percent of respondents reported having consumed illegal substances in the previous year, compared with 0.8 percent in 2002. And drug rehabilitation professionals caution that higher levels of use may exist, given that the data is self-reported. They also note that an alarming increase in drug use among women and adolescents between 2002 and 2008 has persisted, although the survey suggests overall illegal drug use has plateaued since 2008.

RECOMMENDED: How much do you know about Mexico? Take our quiz.

The reality is that in the organizations and institutions that work directly with this population, we see that [addiction] is on the rise, and that the adolescents who come here are younger and younger, says Blanca Ferreyra, who coordinates addiction treatments at the Love Life Foundation, a Mexico City nonprofit. By 14 years old, theyve got a two- or three-year-old addiction.

Get our FREE 2013 Global Security Forecast now

That wasnt always the case. A decade ago, drug rehabilitation professionals say they mostly attended to older patients whose addictions began in their 20s, and tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana were the most common drugs. Although these substances are still the most prevalent, today more young people are beginning with crack or inhalants cheap, extremely addictive, and increasingly accessible.

GUAVA-SCENTED INHALANTS

In a facility painted bright yellow with a grassy inner courtyard, the Love Life Foundation attends to young addicts remitted by Mexico Citys juvenile justice system. A dozen doctors, psychiatrists, and therapists treat about 120 adolescents a year, as well as their families.

Dr. Lorena Lpez Ordaz, the foundation director, says youth addictions in Mexico City can be spawned by a number of factors, including less parental involvement and overcrowded classrooms.

Read this article:
As Mexico's traffickers ship drugs north, they leave addicts in their wake