Living in contexts of drug sale and consumption: perspectives of young students in Baja California

Abstract

Baja California stands out at the national level due to the high prevalence of drug use and violencen that have become a part of life in its border cities. To understand and manage Baja California’s drug problem, a new approach is necessary, where the voices of the at-risk young population are taken into account. A grounded theory study was developed to understand the implications and experiences relatedto drug use in middle and high school students from Baja California, Mexico. Eight discussion groups were held in which 54 students from public high schools participated. The results show that participants have daily access to drugs, both in their communities and in some schools. A process of normalization of the sale, consumption, and violence related to drugs is observed. Young people have developed evasive strategies when faced with the supply of drugs, because, from their point of view, the preventive
actions of the institutions are insufficient. The results show that a local theory on the supply and consumption of drugs in Baja California youth is necessary to generate a public policy of attention with emphasis on indicated prevention.