Drug Use in the United States-Mexico Border Area: Is There an Epidemic Waiting to Happen?

Abstract

This article examines the prevalence of illicit drug, alcohol, and cigarette use along the U.S. side of the international border with Mexico. The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) provides unique coverage of the Mexico border area, based on its design that oversamples Hispanics in areas where they tend to be concentrated. The prevalence of drug use along the border is very similar to that found throughout the remainder of the United States. However, Hispanics residing near the border exhibit lowerprevalence ratesfor most classes of drugs than their counterparts in the remainder of the United States. Conversely, Hispanic youth report comparatively higherprevalence rates. These findings imply that we must remain vigilant in our prevention efforts in the border area to keep drug use from escalating.

Newly incident cannabis use in the United States, 2002–2011: a regional and state level benchmark

“…The published prevalence estimates are from surveys of 12-to-17-year-olds and 18-to-25-year olds in 2010–14, and convey estimated state-specific proportions for individuals with any cannabis smoking at any time during the year prior to the date of survey assessment. The observed patterns in these state-specific prevalence estimates have suggested that the US states bordering Mexico might be remarkable for excess prevalence, with the possible exception of Texas, and have helped substantiate predictions made by others (e.g., Harrison & Kennedy, 1994). …”

“…At present, these states do not appear to have exceptional cannabis incidence rates. If other assertions about elevated cannabis prevalence in this region are correct (e.g., Harrison & Kennedy, 1994; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), 2012b), but cannabis incidence is not elevated, then the implication is greater persistence or duration of cannabis use once it gets started (Lapouse, 1967; Cheng, Cantave & Anthony, 2016). …”

Policies and Laws Affecting Mexican-Origin Immigrant Access and Utilization of Substance Abuse Treatment: Obstacles to Recovery and Immigrant Health

“…The United States-Mexico Border region has been thought to be a high risk environment for substance abuse 2 due to drug trafficking (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, 2003), relatively easy access to pharmaceuticals in Mexico (Valdes and Sifaneck, 1997), socioeconomic stress, rapid and dynamic population growth, the interrelationship of cultures (Finch, Hummer, Kolody, and Vega, 2001), and a young population (Harrison and Kennedy, 1994;USMBHC, 2003). Studies of adult substance use on the U.S. -Mexico Border (Lawrence, 1998;Patterson et al, 2006;Maxwell, 2006;Firestone Cruz et al, 2006;and Ramos et al, 2007) point to serious health disparities, for example, access to health care, low insurance coverage, socioeconomic disadvantages, and high rates of tuberculosis, HIV, and chronic diseases.…”

Perceived Ethnic Discrimination versus Acculturation Stress: Influences on Substance Use among Latino Youth in the Southwest

“…For several reasons, more acculturated youth may be more likely than their less acculturated counterparts to employ the substance use coping strategy. Latino youth at higher levels of acculturation report greater normative approval of substance use (i.e., stronger pro-drug attitudes) and higher rates of actual substance use (Epstein, Botvin, and Diaz 2001; Harrison and Kennedy 1994; Kulis et al 2003; Marsiglia et al 2005, Marsiglia and Waller 2002; Nieri et al 2005; Zayas, Rojas, and Malgady 1998). Through their greater proficiency in English, more acculturated Latino youth may be influenced more readily by pro-drug norms and pro-drug images in mainstream media, such as those depicting substance use as common (i.e., normal), sexy, and fun (Dalton et al 2003).…”