Drug abuse on the rise and at an early onset in Mexico

The consumption of illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco is a health issue on the rise in Mexico, according to the head of the National Commission Against Addictions (CONADIC), Manuel Mondragón y Kalb, during the ceremony for the recognition of drug use prevention efforts on behalf of young members of the National Military Service (SMN) and the Ministry of Navy.

He noted that: “The last National Addiction Survey revealed that over 10,000 minors between the ages of ten and eleven years old are active consumers of liquor, tobacco and have smoked marijuana more than once in their lifetime… true information surrounding the public health issue of illicit drugs alcohol and tobacco consumption emerges from the company of friends, family and neighbors, this is irreplaceable and cannot be superseded by anyone[…] young people will only listen to young people”.

He concluded by saying that the joint program “National Effort against Addictions, Join up now” has provided assistance and orientation to 6,230 middle high-school students and over 4,447 parents. Mondragón y Kablan insisted on the importance of improving intra-family communications to address and ease the impact of this health and social problem in Mexico.

For his part Navy Commander, Javier López García, Chief of the Subsection of the National Military Service of the General Headquarters of the High Command of the Ministry of Navy (SEMAR), said that the training received by all members in the Ministry is instrumental in the combat against drug consumption in Mexico.