The Municipal Institute against Addictions (IMCAD) receives 200 calls monthly, of which 40 of them request help for the treatment of addictions in minors. Such action will be reinforced by the head of the institute through the development of a comprehensive program for young consumers of psychoactive substances.

The inclusion of the project for this vulnerable sector aims to rehabilitate those who request admission on a voluntary basis, as well as to reinsert them in school, family and community reintegration, since there are few free treatment centers in the city, such as the one offered at the Therapeutic Community for Rehabilitation and Social Reinsertion of Addicts (Cotrrsa).

The 2019 report on problem-oriented detection in adolescents states that in Baja California the risk of psychoactive substance use or abuse is equivalent to 20.58 percent in the 12 to 14 age group and 21.74 percent in the 15 to 17 age group.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency detected a total of 220 minors with addictions, of which 162 were males and 58 females.

According to the Institute's report, specialists in the program for the integral treatment of adolescents from 12 to 17 years of age will work in the physical, mental, emotional, somatic, interpersonal and behavioral areas where the parent or guardian will carry out an integral rehabilitation process through psychological therapies.

All residencies will be based on the General Health Law, its regulations and the Mexican Official Standard (NOM), with a Human Rights perspective, focused on the final realization of a life project and will last nine months.

According to data from the agency, it has been proven that adolescence is one of the stages of life where there are more risk factors for initiating the consumption of tobacco, alcohol or drugs; therefore, the adoption of early preventive measures should be emphasized.

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