NCJ Number
144214
Date Published
1992
Length
45 pages
Annotation
Mexico's Drug Control Program, the government's framework of action that delineates the national response to the drug problem, primarily focuses on drug abuse prevention and treatment, crime prevention, and drug trafficking.
Abstract
The program developed under the auspices of the Ministries of National Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defense, Navy, Treasury and Finance, Agriculture, Public Education, and Health, and in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General. It was formulated to respond to increased drug production, consumption, and trafficking. In 1988, an estimated 4.8 percent of the urban population between 12 and 65 years of age had used drugs at least once. Further, marijuana, opium gum, and crude heroin are produced in Mexico, and the country has well-established drug trafficking routes. The Drug Control Program focuses on drug education, prevention, rehabilitation, and treatment and on law enforcement and the prevention of drug-related crimes. The program involves many agencies in Mexico and aims to strengthen international cooperation, particularly with the United States, Guatemala, and Belize. Efforts to modernize Mexico's criminal justice system to deal with the drug problem are noted, including research and technological development, manpower development and training, information and data collection, and public affairs. Data are provided on cocaine, marijuana, opiate, and psychotropic drug seizures and on marijuana and poppy eradication. A table lists projects initiated by various Mexican government agencies to control drug abuse, production, and trafficking.