And what do they do?
BY LISSETTE VALENTIN
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The Youth Integration Center (Centro de Integracion Juvenil) is a Mexican non-profit civil association incorporated into the Health Sector. It was founded in 1969, to address drug use among young people. The Youth Integration Center is dedicated to doing research and teaching about addictions. Today it has 120 care centers throughout Mexico, including Mexico City, of which 10 are Hospitalization Centers, two of them exclusively for infants and adolescents, two Heroin Treatment Care Centers, a Scientific Research Unit plus 107 Prevention and Treatment Centers. The CIJ offers inpatient and outpatient programs. The usual duration of treatment depends on the consumption characteristics of each patient as well as the type of treatment considered to produce the best results. A treatment should last at least three months. Costs to the public vary and are determined through a social study that is given to patients and/or their families. With Outpatient Consultations, patients and/or families receive services once or twice a week without the need for hospitalization. Service is provided by a team of professionals: doctors, psychologists and social workers.
Ten years ago, the Youth Integration Center reported that there was an increase in marijuana consumption among users, said Carmen Fernández, general director. “Marijuana has surpassed tobacco consumption in users who go to the Youth Integration Centers in search of treatment. We have reports that many young people consume it at parties, mainly recreationally. Alcohol and marijuana go hand in hand.” She also mentioned that before, patients sought help for addiction to crack, cocaine or methamphetamine. Now marijuana has been a problem for longer. More than 40% of users seek treatment for this drug. The Mexican states where the highest marijuana consumption is observed are Baja California Sur, Colima, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Mexico City, Guerrero, State of Mexico, Michoacán and Morelos.
For the Los Cabos area, the increase in drug use has represented a challenge since the youth population continues to grow and the issue of addiction has become a strong public health and social problem. In a recent fundraising event for the construction of a hospital center In San Jose del Cabo, the treasurer of the association said, ”Addiction begins with the mothers and fathers of our patient children, which is why it is not only necessary to help the infants but also the parents. CIJ lacks financial resources which is why several other civil associations such as Los Cabos Children Foundation, the Questro Foundation and the Los Cabos Hotel Association have provided support for many years now.” A few years ago, Don Carlos Alvarez donated a piece of land in the Vista Hermosa neighborhood. His son suffered from cocaine and alcohol addictions.
Shortly after taking possession of their land, they built offices and a small clinic where they offer outpatient but not inpatient treatment or hospitalization. In reality, the CIJ team is very small and the cases that can be taken are limited. For this among other reasons, their committee has embarked on organizing several events, including a breakfast at the famous Jazmin restaurant in downtown San Jose del Cabo held at the beginning of this month. The tickets cost 650 pesos or 40 USD. More than 50 people attended, mostly women, including businesswomen and volunteers from other organizations. In addition, there was a silent auction that included items like hotel stays and dinners in fancy restaurants. All proceeds went towards the fund for the construction of an inpatient treatment facility. They plan to build a rehabilitation center that not only treats addictions but also mental illnesses that usually go hand in hand. The facilities will include two wings, one for women and one for men, kitchens, bathrooms, a gym, and other recreational areas for post-treatment. The architectural plans are in progress and more events are being organized as you read this.
It is an ambitious project that, without support from other civil associations and our community, will be impossible to achieve. If you are interested in visiting the center in Vista Hermosa, learning more about the project or making a donation in cash or in kind, contact: Mex cel +52 624 105 2868 cijloscabos@cij.gob.mx or visit cij.gob.mx
