The UN issued a report last Tuesday, March 4, warning about the increase in fentanyl consumption in Mexico. Although the country is recognized as an important center for the production and export of this synthetic opioid, there is a significant growth in the demand for treatment for the consumption of this drug, especially in border regions with the United States, such as Baja California, Chihuahua, Sonora, and Sinaloa.
According to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), in 2023, 430 cases of treatment for fentanyl consumption were recorded, a figure that contrasts with the practically nonexistent demand before 2018. This indicates, according to the INCB, that the country is evolving into a fentanyl consumption market.
The consumption of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl, was the main reason why 60% of the people treated in 2023 by the NGO 'Centros de Integración Juvenil' sought help. Among the most consumed drugs are cannabis, methamphetamine, and cocaine, according to that report.
Additionally, it is highlighted that the consumption of opioid analgesics in Mexico is significantly lower than in the United States, being approximately 800 times lower in 2022. The INCB also points out the presence of pharmacies in northern Mexico selling counterfeit drugs, such as methamphetamine incorrectly labeled as Adderall and fentanyl tablets sold as oxycodone.
The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, recently detailed her interaction with Donald Trump regarding fentanyl consumption in the country. In response to the former U.S. president's question, Sheinbaum mentioned that while there are challenges, fentanyl consumption in Mexico does not reach the levels of the United States, thanks to the values and care that Mexican families and society maintain among themselves.
