Substance abuse in Mexico

Substance abuse in Mexico
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A community’s culture affects how a community deals with substance abuse, and the relevance of culture in health care has become more important with the need for more culturally competent health services. Drug cartels have increasingly become ruthlessness in Mexico as they try to bring more drugs in America. Northern Mexico which borders the US has been particularly affected by increased substance abuse. Like in most countries, drug use in large cities like Mexico City tends to be higher than in the rural areas. However, increased competition by drug cartels have led to more supply of drugs in the north of Mexico. Crack, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine have increased over time and these are the drugs most likely to be smuggled into the U.S. (Villagran, 2013). Culture impacts on substance abuse, as there is a more complex relationship between substance abuse and Mexican culture as women are not culturally sanctioned to drink. Similarly, substance abuse differs considerably on gender basis among Mexicans, and there is a higher rate of abstinence among women.
Mexico is the top supplier of illegal drugs in the United States, but the nation has also been affected as drug cartels seek to increase their grip within the country as well. Between the years 2002 to 2011 there was an 87 percent increase in drug use according to the national survey of addiction as quoted by (Villagran, 2013). Similarly, 0.8 of the population abused substances in 2002, and this increased to 1.5 percent in the year 2011 (Villagran, 2013). Nonetheless, the population of people abusing drugs could be higher given that the survey was based on self reporting. The survey suggests that the rate of substance abuse has stagnated since 2008, but there are fears that the rate is increasing as reported by people working with addicts especially among the young people. Increased border patrols and vigilance has resulted to cartels seeking to increase supply of drugs in Mexico. Thus, increased funding to drug rehabilitation centers is necessary to avert incre...