What Happened to Street Kids? An Analysis of the Mexican Experience

• NCJ Number: 165110
• Journal: Substance Use and Misuse Volume: 32 Issue: 3 Dated: (1997) Pages: 293-316
• Author(s): M E Medina-Mora; R Gutierrez; L Vega
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 24 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC.

Annotation

This paper identifies some possible reasons for the failure of Mexico's programs for street children and provides background information on demographic and socioeconomic trends underlying self-employment as well as a historical perspective of the social context of street children.

Abstract

It also describes the strategies used by children to survive in the streets, trends in drug use/misuse, the felt needs of children, and the social responses to this problem. The data on which the analysis is based come from the research programs of the Mexican Institute of Psychiatry over the past 20 years. References is also made to other studies and reports from institutions and authors working in this field. The economic crises in Mexico have led to an increase in the number of children and adolescents who contribute to the family income by working in the streets. Although such child labor has existed in Mexico since the 16th century, today it has become a growing concern of authorities and researchers in many developed and developing countries. A realistic strategy for addressing this problem cannot expect to eliminate street children, but it should achieve risk or harm reduction for these children. In the process of working in the streets, children become involved in the drug subcultures. Some drop out of school and leave their family homes. Surveys of street children under 18 years old show a high prevalence of drug use. Although the Mexican government has mounted programs to address the needs of street children, they have generally failed due to unrealistic goals, a fragmented perception of the problem, and a fragmented response to it. There is significant pressure on social and welfare institutions to produce unrealistic results, and there is a lack of continuity in the programs and a disregard for the perception and felt needs of working children who should benefit from government programs. 55 references