DRUG-USE IN THE UNITED-STATES-MEXICO BORDER AREA - IS THERE AND EPIDEMIC WAITING TO HAPPEN

This article examines the prevalence of illicit drug, alcohol and cigarette use along the US. side of the international border with Mexico. The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) provides unique coverage of the Mexico border area, based on its design that oversamples Hispanics in areas where they tend to be concentrated. The prevalence of drug use along the border is very similar to that found throughout the remainder of the United States. However Hispanics residing near the border exhibit lower prevalance rates for most classes of drugs than their counterparts in the remainder of the United States. Conversely, Hispanic youth report comparatively higher prevalence rates. These findings imply that we must remain vigilant in our prevention efforts in the border area to keep drug use from escalating.