NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE EPIDEMIOLOGIC ...

Others (63.8 percent) were using a second drug, usually
marijuana (26.1 percent), crystal methamphetamine
(20.9 percent), alcohol (15.4 percent), or heroin
(12.3 percent). Of the multiple drug using group, 46.3
percent used a third drug, mainly crystal methamphetamine
(23.9 percent), marijuana (15.2 percent),
or alcohol (14.6 percent) (exhibit 10).
Juvenile Detention Centers reported that 15.2 percent
of the younger arrestees in the first half of 2004 used
cocaine (exhibit 6). Most were male (94.4 percent);
54.3 percent had an elementary school education; 39.5
percent were subemployed; 35.5 percent had tattoos;
and only 32.5 percent were gang members. Less than
one-third of these juvenile infractors (29.3 percent)
committed the offense under intoxication, and robbery
was the most common offense (48.5 percent).
Heroin
According to GTCs, heroin patients in the first half of
2004 were all males. More than one-quarter (27.3
percent) were age 20–24; 18.2 percent were age 15–
19; 90.0 percent were equally divided between having
an elementary, middle school, and high school
education; and 27.3 percent were single (exhibit 1).
Sixty percent came from a middle low socioeconomic
background, and 30.0 percent were from a low socioeconomic
level. The age of onset for 45.5 percent of
the heroin users occurred between the ages of 10 and
14. All reported daily use.
Of the 11 GTC patients attending treatment during
the first half of 2004, only 0.1 percent reported heroin
as their drug of onset; as a primary drug it ranked
fifth (2.4 percent).
According to NGC data, most heroin patients were
male (92.2 percent); 39.1 percent were age 35 and
older; 40.5 percent had only an elementary school
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EPIDEMIOLOGIC TRENDS IN DRUG ABUSE—SISVEA
education; and 54.7 percent were single. The most
common age of first use of heroin among these patients
was 15–19 (38.6 percent); 95.2 percent reported
daily use.
Since 1994, heroin as drug of onset among NGC
patients has been increasing. In the first half of 2004,
2.1 percent of NGC patients reported heroin as a drug
of first use. As the primary drug of use, heroin ranked
third among NGC patients (18.3 percent).
Juvenile Detention Centers reported that 0.4 percent
of the juveniles arrested during the first half of 2004
used heroin (exhibit 6). Most were male (95.5 percent);
57.1 percent had an elementary school education;
36.4 percent were unemployed; 50.0 percent had
tattoos; and 45.5 percent were gang members. Of the
heroin arrestees, 42.9 percent of their offenses were
committed under intoxication, and robbery was the
most common offense (59.1 percent).
CONCLUSIONS
SISVEA has been strengthened and currently includes
all areas in Mexico. The types of drugs reported varied
according to different sources of information. Marijuana
and cocaine increased among the Juvenile Detention
Center population. GTCs reported a slight
increase in the use of cocaine among female patients.
Prior to 1998, marijuana was the most frequently reported
drug in NGCs. Beginning in 1999, however,
surveillance data show a slight increase in alcohol
consumption among NGC patients; alcohol currently
ranks first in consumption reports. Alcohol appears as
the greatest drug of impact during the first half of 2004
and ranked slightly above cocaine and heroin. An
increase in alcohol use was also observed at GTCs as
both the drug of onset and the drug of impact; it ranked
above cocaine as the drug of impact.
For inquiries concerning this report, please contact Roberto Tapia-Conyer, Ministry of Health of Mexico, Cerro de Macuiltepec #83, Col.
Campestre Churubusco, 04200, Delagacion Coyoacan, D.F., Mexico City, Phone: 525-55-53-7145, Fax: 525-55-53-7292, E-mail:
rtapia@mail.ssa.gob.mx.
Proceedings of the Community Epidemiology Work Group, Vol. II, January 2005