Abstract

SANCHEZ-HUESCA, Ricardo  and  ARELLANEZ-HERNANDEZ, Jorge Luis. Uso de drogas en migrantes mexicanos captados en ciudades de la frontera noroccidental México-Estados Unidos. Estud. front [online]. 2011, vol.12, n.23, pp.9-26. ISSN 2395-9134.

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 signiicantly 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.

Keywords : migration; immigration; illicit drugs; substance abuse; mental health.

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