Expert Insights
As a fairly new mom, one of the things that keeps me up at night is worrying about my children. Like every mom, I want to make sure my kids are safe. And one of the places where we simply expect them to be safe is within their schools. But we’re sadly discovering that the implied safety of a school is more of a facade. I recently read about an El Paso school that has seen a rash of opioid overdoses – including three fatal overdoses – meaning the kids were getting and taking illicit opioid pills while in school. One mother said she even reported the problem to school officials after her daughter admitted she was addicted after months of taking opioid pills between classes. No action was taken by the officials. This only strengthens my resolve to have an open dialogue with my children (when they’re old enough) about the dangers of drugs and the potential consequences of addiction. It’s up to us as parents to take the lead in this battle against drug abuse and ultimately keep our kids safe.
~ Natalie Baker
How Does El Paso Compare in Alcohol and Drug Use?
El Paso is among the top three cities in Texas facing a significant uptick in substance use disorders over the past decade or so. It ranks third only to Houston and Dallas for rates of addiction to cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. But residents can choose from approximately a dozen alcohol and drug rehab centers in El Paso, including free, men-only, women-only, and faith-based rehabs.
El Paso’s location contributes to its relatively high rates of substance use and misuse. This sprawling Texas city is located right on the border with Mexico, just across the Rio Grande from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. That makes El Paso among the top U.S. destinations for various drugs moved across the border.
Between 1999 and 2014, rates of treatment for methamphetamine addiction increased by 500%, and in 2018, nearly 20% of adults in the metro El Paso area indulged in heavy drinking.
Resources
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin. (2019). State of Texas Drug Use Patterns and Trends 2019.
- Health and Human Services. (2021) Mental Health and Substance Use Insurance Help. HHS.gov.
- City of El Paso Community Development. (n.d.) Neighborhood Associations. ElPasoTexas.gov.
- Addressing Substance Use in Texas. Public Health Agency Action Plan 2020-2022. (n.d.) Texas Department of State Health Services. DSHS.state.tx.
