Blurred Borders - International Community Foundation

prominently in the distribution of drugs, particularly cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and
marijuana in U.S. markets. 316
While the markets are largely in America, many drugs become stranded on the south of border
as a result of security measures at the border, which experts believe has led to increased drug
use in the border towns in Mexico. While the conventional wisdom is that drug use is higher in
the colonias populares, a study of Texas-Mexico border region found that drug abuse problems
are equally present in colonias populares and non-colonias. 317
Alcohol abuse has been a common problem along the US-Mexico border, dating back to the
days of Prohibition. Just as Americans headed for Mexican border towns during Prohibition for
alcohol consumption, American youths who cannot consume alcohol legally in the US head for
Mexican border towns, where drinking age is lower. Many teens growing up in San Diego cross
the border to Tijuana on Friday and Saturday night to get involved in activities less available in
San Diego. There has been a longtime tendency for San Diego’s youth to cross the border to
Tijuana to drink heavily, and some consort with prostitutes. These activities can lead to
increased rates of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV infection, alcohol poisoning, DUI arrests
and fatal car accidents. Vandalism, loitering and other unsightly and irresponsible activities that
these drunk youth often engage in have also negatively affected Tijuana’s businesses and
residents.
According to a study by the Institute for Public Strategies (2002: 1-2), Tijuana businesses, often
in cooperation with San Diego businesses, promote youth access to alcohol at Tijuana bars and
nightclubs. All-you-can-drink specials are often used to allure customers, both Tijuanenses and
San Diegans, to Tijuana’s bars, and the consequences have been negative for not only San
Diego’s youth but also Tijuana’s youth, whose alcoholism is thought to be one of he highest in
Mexico. Reflecting the growing concern about alcohol abuse, Tijuana’s city council recently
introduced an ordinance prohibiting promotion of all-you-can-drink specials. 318 Also, a
binational coalition of social service providers, the Drug-Free Border Coalition, has emerged to
address the issue of substance abuse (see text box).
San Diego-Tijuana Border Initiative’s Drug-Free Border Coalition and
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
www.borderinitiative.org
The San Diego-Tijuana Drug-Free Border Coalition is an innovative binational partnership
committed to reducing substance abuse in the San Diego-Tijuana region by linking groups and
individuals engaged in prevention on both sides of the border and supporting them through
activities including: cross border information sharing; training and technical assistance;
increasing binational awareness about substance abuse; engaging communities in substance
abuse prevention; developing resources to support binational substance abuse efforts; and
316
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, 2002; U.S. Bureau for International Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Affairs
317
Wallisch (1996), cited in U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission report, p. 35.
318
Anna Cearley, “Bars, clubs in Tijuana face more scrutiny,” San Diego Union Tribune, January 31, 2004.
112