Drug use in public spaces increased by 46 percent in Coahuila over four years, according to municipal security agencies. Marijuana was the drug most frequently observed in these situations.
According to the National Census of Municipal Governments, conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), with data from the end of 2024, local police in Coahuila municipalities reported issuing 19,415 citations for the consumption of prohibited substances in public, which is considered a civil offense.
Of the total citations issued that year, marijuana was the most frequently cited substance for public consumption, accounting for 7,168 citations.
On the other hand, municipal officers reported to their departments or to the civil justice system the issuance of 2,743 citations for the consumption of psychotropic substances, which may include crystal meth.
In addition, 950 violations were also issued in 2024 for the use of inhalants, another 625 for cocaine use, and 270 for the use of hallucinogenic substances, according to the INEGI census.
Of the total violations issued, 7,649, or 39 percent, were classified as “other” in relation to the substance detected while being consumed in public.
In the previous census, conducted with data corresponding to 2020, municipal police in Coahuila issued 13,221 violations. Therefore, between that year and 2024, with the 19,415 violations reported, the consumption of prohibited substances in public increased by 46 percent.
However, according to the data, the reality of consumption was reflected differently in the officers’ reports at that time.
In detail, the 2020 census indicates that the most frequently reported drug use in public that year was inhalants, with 4,373 cases; followed by marijuana, with 3,948 cases; psychotropic substances, with 3,127 cases; and cocaine use remained almost unchanged, with 612 citations.
Source: vanguardia
