Drug consumption in Mexican immigrants interviewed in northwest Mexico-USA border cities

The purpose of this research was to confirm the existence of a relationship between the immigration stay in the United States and the use of illicit drugs. By applying a nonprobabilistic sample in Tijuana, Nogales and Ciudad Juarez 567 immigrants, were interviewed 77.8% were males (average of 29 yea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Estudios fronterizos 2011-01, Vol.12 (23), p.9-26
Main Authors: Ricardo Sánchez–Huesca, Jorge Luis Arellanez–Hernández
Format: Article
Language:eng ; spa
Subjects:
consumo de drogas
drogas ilícitas
emigración
migración
salud mental
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Summary:The purpose of this research was to confirm the existence of a relationship between the immigration stay in the United States and the use of illicit drugs. By applying a nonprobabilistic sample in Tijuana, Nogales and Ciudad Juarez 567 immigrants, were interviewed 77.8% were males (average of 29 years old). The main reason of their immigration was the search for an “economic improvement”; the most of they did not have the documentation to cross the border. The main destinations were California, Arizona and Texas. When comparing the use of illicit drugs before and after the immigration experience, the number of users of cocaine and methamphetamine were found to significantly increase. The “curiosity” was the main reason to drug use, as well as the fact of being “invited by friends”. Other reasons seem to be associated to the immigration experience: some used drugs because they felt depressed or because they needed to take a break and feel relaxed after working. These findings make it possible to confirm that the immigration experience modifies the pattern of use of drugs in some immigrants who have previously used this kind of substances; some others start using them during the immigration stay.
ISSN:0187-6961
2395-9134