SAN DIEGO (Border Report) – The use of fentanyl has nearly tripled in Baja California in the last two years, according to the state’s health secretary, José Adrián Medina Amarillas.
Medina Amarillas told reporters on Wednesday that the estimate is based on the number of people now seeking drug counseling at rehabilitation centers in Baja.
“A lot of people are dying because of fentanyl, especially out on the streets, most times they can’t get to hospitals in time to seek medical help,” he said.
The health secretary also stated that a survey conducted at rehab centers across the state, with 3,000 patients participating, revealed the biggest addiction now is for fentanyl.
“We know methamphetamine has had a big impact over the last 10 years, but I worry more about fentanyl use and its effects on the community,” he said. “Two years ago about 4% of those in rehab centers came in for fentanyl addiction, now it’s almost three times as much.”
And Medina Amarillas said it’s likely more people are addicted, but fear coming in for treatment because of the stigma attached to it.
“We need to treat addiction like any other illness, try to treat it early on, but we can’t do much when patients arrived intoxicated near death, rehabilitation is a complex process.”
On the other hand, the health secretary said another reason the number of addicted people seeking help at rehab centers and hospitals is up, could be tied to the court system, which is now sending people linked to drug dealing and drug use to treatment centers for evaluations.
“Many of these cases end up being drug addicts,” Medina Amarillas said. “These programs are proving to be beneficial as we get these people off the streets and away from drugs, they face constant evaluations as we try to get them away from drugs such as fentanyl.”