Mexico addiction centers face protocol updates and minor admission restrictions

The State Council Against Addiction (CECA) has introduced an updated Protocol for the Closure of Residential Addiction Treatment Establishments in the municipalities of San Juan del Río and Tequisquiapan. Presented by Commissioner Sebastián Granados Ponce, the protocol aims to strengthen inter-institutional coordination and establish clear procedures for closing facilities while ensuring that patients and their families receive timely care and that human rights and confidentiality are respected.

In San Juan del Río, representatives from 20 of the 47 registered centers attended the presentation, while Tequisquiapan saw participation from 17 of its 20 establishments.

Separately, rehabilitation center leaders in San Juan del Río have raised concerns regarding a 2023 restriction that prohibits centers from admitting minors for residential treatment. Miguel Ángel Salinas Iñiguez, president of the local centers, argues that this policy denies vulnerable youth access to necessary care. While the government has implemented Primary Addiction Care Centers (CAPA) to provide free outpatient services and psychological support for minors, critics suggest the current framework fails to account for the impact of highly potent synthetic drugs that can impair a minor's ability to seek voluntary treatment.